Last week, General Motors announced that it will manufacture power units for Formula 1 starting in 2028 as part of its Andretti Cadillac team project. Despite being a new element of potential added value, the entry of an 11th team continues to not convince the current teams.
Frédéric Vasseur, team principal of Ferrari, highlighted in a press conference transcribed on the FIA website that GM is welcome, but the same does not necessarily apply to a new structure: ‘If the question is about GM, I think all engine suppliers are welcome in F1. But it’s not the same as an 11th team. They are two separate matters. I think the real question is about the engine supplier, and we can have a new engine supplier’.
From Mercedes’ side, the CEO and team principal emphasized that he still believes a new team has to prove that it brings indeed significant added value: ‘GM is undoubtedly one of the big players. And I think if they say they want to enter the sport in 2028, they are serious about it, and it’s a good commitment. But we need to see if the commercial rights holder considers it a good entry or not. For many teams, it’s a dilution that can make the difference between big losses or smaller losses. And I haven’t changed my opinion about that. We haven’t seen any data, they just say it will be fantastic. What is the case? What are the numbers? How much do we gain in popularity? What is the value of the name? How much more attractive can the sport be? What are the facts? And if those facts are positive, I have no doubt that F1 will consider it that way’.
At Williams, the finances of their structure are more important than the entry of an 11th team, as team principal James Vowles highlighted: ‘I think GM is a good company to bring to our sport. […]. I believe they are the kind of company, the top constructor, that will grow our sport as a result of things. But my opinion on the addition of an 11th team has not changed. Fundamentally, it still revolves around Williams’ finances, which is where my focus is’.
