Manoli Katakis 
2023 is off to a wild start. Days after the sudden and tragic death of Ken Block, we’re given an uplifting announcement that leaves us absolutely slackjawed. General Motors – yes, that General Motors – is partnering up with Andretti Global with the intent to pursue the opportunity to compete in the FIA Formula One World Championship.
Repeat: There’s motion to create a GM-Andretti F1 team.
Rather than waving the Corvette flags or the Chevrolet bowtie – GM will put its motorsports marketing efforts behind the Cadillac brand. The Andretti-Cadillac F1 team would be based in the U.S. with a support facility in the U.K.
But let’s not count the chicken before it hatches. Before there’s any formulation of an F1 team, Andretti-Cadillac has to submit an Expression of Interest when the FIA opens the formal process, and it has to be approved. Once that happens, the new F1 team aims to compete “as soon as practical” with at least one American driver.
Who would it be? Rossi? Herta? Newgarden? The former two are already Andretti Autosport drivers in IndyCar, so it’s not like the team would have to look very hard for talent.
GM is continuing to leverage the Cadillac V-Series brand to impressive effect. What started as humble beginnings with a pair of Pirelli World Challenge CTS-V race cars back in the early 2000s, Cadillac Racing now enjoys competing in the top echelon of American sports car racing. Following in line of the championship-winning Cadillac DPi-VR race cars, America’s leading luxury brand will take things to a new level of performance and technology with the Cadillac V-LMDh hybrid hypercar, which will compete globally in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship. It’s inaugural race will be the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona taking place on January 28-29. It will also compete in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.
