Back in February 2023, Ford announced that it was heading back to Formula One following an extended absence – this time, as the supplier and co-developer of power units for the Red Bull Oracle Racing team starting in 2026. The potential rewards of such a program are quite vast – ranging from media exposure to developing technology that can then trickle down to the automaker’s road-going models. As such, it should come as no surprise to learn that Ford’s cross-town rival General Motors was also trying to get into the world of Formula One, though according to GM Authority, its request has been denied.
As Ford Authority reported last November, GM recently registered with the FIA to become a power unit manufacturer, and was already testing those same units in-house with an eye toward having them ready for the 2028 Formula One season. GM also revealed that the FIA had approved Andretti Cadillac’s Expression of Interest application to race in the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2025, which is notable since it was the only one out of four applicants to receive that honor. However, the automaker still needed to secure approval from Formula One itself.
That ultimately didn’t happen, as the GM/Andretti team’s request to enter the championship in 2025 and become the 11th entry on the grid was rejected by officials, though it is still possible that it could join in 2028. In a statement, Formula One noted that GM’s addition to the series “would not, on its own, provide value to the championship.” “The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant,” the organization added.
Adding another team to the grid would also “place an operational burden on race promoters, would subject some of them to significant costs, and would reduce the technical, operational, and commercial spaces of the other competitors,” F1 officials noted. “We would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 Championship with a GM power unit, either as a GM works team or as a GM customer team designing all allowable components in-house.”
We’ll have more on Ford’s return to F1 soon, so sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford motorsports news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comment
The racing is just a sideline for F1. Its a spoiled little clique that doesn’t want to share any space in their sandbox. F1 is all about the money.