P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff maintains that adding an accretive 11th team to the F1 grid makes sense. However he is wary of why the General Motors bid initially failed, when in its original Andretti guise.
Toto Wolff strongly believes that the addition of General Motors (GM) and its Cadillac entry to Formula 1 would be highly advantageous, making it a clear choice to expand the grid to 11 teams. Initially critical of the project centered around Andretti, Wolff’s concerns led to Formula 1 management rejecting the bid in early 2024. However, a restructured approach, focusing on Cadillac and overshadowing the Andretti faction, earned provisional approval for the 2026 entry. Before final acceptance by F1, key adjustments regarding the Andretti-GM partnership and GM’s level of involvement needed to be addressed. Despite showing support for the project’s potential, Wolff remains cautious due to the lack of detail confirmed about the Cadillac agreement and its impact on the sport. He emphasizes the need for transparency and respect for the established F1 teams, underscoring the importance of any new entry proving its value to the sport.
