After Porsche, the American duo, Cadillac and Andretti are temporarily out of F1. The reason why I say for the time being is because they haven't given up on entering the Formula E competitive market yet.
A few years ago, there was some big news that got F1 fans excited. The first was rumoured that Porsche and Audi were interested in making the move into F1, and then Cadillac joined the bandwagon. It didn't take long for these rumors to be confirmed. More specifically, in 2026, that is, in line with the time set by the new F1 technology, we will compete as a new contender. There have been many years since a new team joined the F1 team, which has given a new lease of life to the dead F1 sport.
But what is certain is that these brands have only indicated their intention to participate, and have not yet confirmed their participation with a new team. Of course, expressing the intention to participate in the manufacturing company does not mean that it is simply a trial, but in fact, the organizational structure must be carried out simultaneously from technology development to project implementation.
Now, after all these years, what is the outcome of their hopes of making the leap into F1? First of all, so far, Audi has not had much of a problem and is preparing for the 2026 season. The partnership with Sauber was confirmed early on, the car was unveiled, and the development of the powertrain was well underway.
Unexpectedly, Porsche experienced labor pains. Technology development and huge funding are not a problem. On the contrary, they were held back by the lack of a team of competition partners like Sauber. Even with the full support of the Volkswagen Group, building an F1 team from the bottom without any foundation today is actually too risky. From the beginning of the establishment of the factory, especially the procurement of human resources, it should not be underestimated. So, in general, new teams will choose to join Formula 1 by acquiring or partnering with existing F1 teams.
It turned out that Porsche planned to join forces with Red Bull Racing, but it didn't work out. First of all, Porsche didn't want to join F1 purely as a powertrain provider. To do this, you have to be the team's largest sponsor, or majority shareholder, to have the opportunity to change the team's name. However, Red Bull Racing itself is strong, its dominance over the car still exists, and the brand power is too strong.
Asking such a fleet to share the right amount of equity and dominance was difficult to achieve from the start. Porsche's offer was difficult for Red Bull Racing to accept, as Red Bull Racing was preparing to build its own engine manufacturing plant and develop its own technology. Red Bull Racing is hungry for more than just ensuring a stable powertrain.
In this way, Porsche and Red Bull had completely different needs from each other, and in the end the negotiations could only break down. In a sense, this leaves a less than satisfactory stain on Porsche's motorsport history. Especially in the case of a direct comparison with Audi, it is a loss of face. In the end, they gave up on F1.
So what about the last remaining Cadillac? In fact, for the sake of understanding, let's say Cadillac. But behind it is the American motorsports legend, Andreti's team. They have teamed up with Cadillac to show their intention to participate in F1.
Their conditions are also different from those of Audi and Porsche. Because Team Andreti is already a motorsport specialist in its own right, the car has a huge experience in development, manufacturing and the entire operation of the car. Therefore, there is no need for a partner. It's just that what they need is a sponsor who provides both engines and funding. So they chose General Motors, which is also an American company, and named it after Cadillac.
If the development of the power unit under the Cadillac name is completed by 2028, the franchise can be reconsidered. However, in the meantime, it is likely that the entry threshold will be significantly raised. It is necessary to pay a higher fee to participate than in the 2026 season. It is unclear whether Formula 1, which is dominated by the European market, will accept teams from the United States.