{"id":27573,"date":"2024-12-02T11:39:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T16:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=27573"},"modified":"2024-12-02T11:47:51","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T16:47:51","slug":"mario-andretti-fia-open-to-inviting-a-12th-team-to-f1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/02\/mario-andretti-fia-open-to-inviting-a-12th-team-to-f1\/","title":{"rendered":"Mario Andretti: FIA open to inviting a 12th team to F1"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is already plenty of discussion about GM\/Cadillac F1’s new entry for the 2026 season. However, according to Mario Andretti<\/a>, another team could join the grid – which would see F1 expand further to twelve teams.<\/p>\n

General Motors\/Cadillac create the blueprint for how teams can enter F1<\/h2>\n

Prior to GM\/Cadillac’s entry bid being accepted, no team had received approval to join Formula 1 since Guenther Steiner’s Haas.<\/p>\n

Because of this, there were questions about the criteria that applicants needed to meet for Liberty Media and the FIA to give them the green light.<\/p>\n

After months and even years of talks, the American manufacturer managed to reach an agreement with FOM (F1 Management) in November.<\/p>\n

GM’s commitment to producing their own power units in 2028<\/a>, alongside their heavy infrastructure investments, were key components in getting the deal across the line.<\/p>\n

Of course, a fee in the hundreds of millions will also be paid to existing teams – which will serve to compensate for F1’s prize money being diluted.<\/p>\n

Andretti: There could be a 12th team on the grid<\/h4>\n

Under the current terms of the Concorde agreement, a maximum of twelve teams can compete in Formula 1. This means there is space for another name to join the grid, in addition to Cadillac F1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speaking to CBS Detroit<\/a>, Mario Andretti discussed the importance of General Motors joining F1 as a manufacturer.<\/p>\n

He also suggested that another team could find their way onto the grid:<\/p>\n

“Well, obviously, to have a manufacturer there – there’s the ability to supply to other teams,”<\/em> he told Rachel Hopmayer.<\/p>\n

“It looks like the FIA might invite a twelfth team to join. So, again, there’s always a need for an engine.<\/em><\/p>\n

“To have another manufacturer, to be able to supply that, it actually reinforces the basics of Formula 1.<\/em><\/p>\n

“They [GM\/Cadillac] are very ambitious now, the schedule just keeps going up, there is incredible commitment.<\/em><\/p>\n

“So to ensure yourself, that you’re going to have a full grid and so on, this is a step forward for that.”<\/em><\/p>\n

It is no secret that F1 wants more manufacturers in the sport.<\/p>\n

Even during the height of tensions between Andretti and Liberty Media, there was always a desire from FOM to get General Motors<\/a> onboard.<\/p>\n

There were even reports that GM were encouraged to find another team, rather than Andretti, to partner with.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, it would not be unreasonable for another big manufacturer to make a convincing offer.<\/p>\n

No certainty on another entry, but the door is open<\/h4>\n

To be clear, there is nothing concrete regarding who – if anyone – could realistically become a 12th team in Formula 1.<\/p>\n

Still, it is worth mentioning there have been rumours about other big manufacturers showing interest. Perhaps most notably, it emerged earlier in 2024 that Hyundai haven’t ruled out joining F1 in 2031.<\/p>\n

Cyril Abiteboul, president of Hyundai Motorsport (and former Renault<\/a> team principal) spoke about this topic over the summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He insisted that whilst Hyundai have not committed to anything, entering Formula 1 in 2031 is something the group could evaluate.<\/p>\n

Inevitably, it is impossible to say with certainty who Andretti was referring to when he discussed a possible 12th team.<\/p>\n

However, his comments still provide insights into some of the discussions taking place behind closed doors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is already plenty of discussion about GM\/Cadillac F1’s new entry for the 2026 season. However, according to Mario Andretti, another team could join the grid – which would see F1 expand further to twelve teams. General Motors\/Cadillac create the blueprint for how teams can enter F1 Prior to GM\/Cadillac’s entry bid being accepted, no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4927,"featured_media":20430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[2220,1986,465,495],"class_list":["post-27573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-formula-1","category-news","tag-2024-formula-1-season","tag-cadillac","tag-f1-news","tag-general-motors"],"modified_by":"Jaden Diaz-Ndisang","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4927"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27573"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27577,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27573\/revisions\/27577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}