In October 2023, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) announced that it had approved Andretti Global’s entry into Formula 1 for 2026. However, hopes of an American team joining the sport died in January 2024 when Formula One Management (FOM) denied it due to a “lack of competitiveness.”

The whole debacle reached the point that project head Michael Andretti had to resort to the United States Department of Justice, citing anti-competition practices done by Liberty Media, the North American-based owner of F1. Nothing notable happened until last month when Michael suddenly announced his departure as CEO of Andretti Global.

It wasn’t until after the Las Vegas Grand Prix that the project was announced to push through in two years, but under the Cadillac banner instead. General Motors enlisted TWG Global, which operates Andretti Global, to design new machines for the F1 2026 regulations and a homegrown power unit in the coming years.

Former American F1 driver Mario Andretti will oversee operations as one of the team’s board of directors. “My first love was Formula 1, and now—70 years later—the F1 paddock is still my happy place,” he expressed. “To still be involved at this stage of my life…I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

Despite stepping into the upper echelon of motorsports, Cadillac still seems committed to its LMDh program in both WEC and IMSA. Now that the dream has finally come to fruition, are you ready to witness a new team on the F1 grid?