Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Andretti’s F1 Bid Gets Boost As GM Will Build Engines

  • Michael Andretti is leading a bid to enter Formula 1 as an 11th team on the grid.
  • If successful, General Motors will build F1 engines for the team beginning in 2028.
Michael-Andretti
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

As Formula 1 descends on Sin City for its highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix, Michael Andretti’s bid to launch an expansion team continues to gain momentum.

The influential American racing figure had already sealed a partnership with Cadillac for his potential F1 team, and now the brand’s parent company, General Motors, has decided to build F1 engines for the team.

GM announced that it formally registered with the FIA as a F1 power unit manufacturer starting in the 2028 season. Coming on the heels of Andretti’s bid being approved by the FIA, the expansion process can now move on to the final stages. 

If F1 owner Liberty Media gives Andretti the final green light to join the grid in 2025 or 2026, his team will need to partner with an engine supplier until 2028. But having its own engine could be an important long-term achievement, as the team won’t have to rely on its competitors’ product.

Power Supply

Developing championship-caliber engines can cost automakers north of $1 billion.

  • Mercedes supplies its own team, plus Aston Martin, McLaren, and Williams.
  • Ferrari supplies itself plus Alfa Romeo and Haas. 
  • Red Bull and sister team Alpha Tauri have a power-unit support deal with Honda. 
  • Alpine uses engines from its parent company, Renault. 

In 2026, Red Bull will transition to using Ford engines.

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