The 2026 Formula 1 season is set to see more than 20 cars on the grid for the first time since 2014 after General Motors had an application accepted to join the sport.
A GM-backed bid from Andretti was initially accepted at the beginning of 2024 before being rejected by Formula One Management in association with the teams and Liberty Media.
This led to frustration within the Andretti organisation and the number of protests from the current teams on the grid made the prospect of more than 10 manufacturers ever being in the sport again look very unlikely.
However, over the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, talk gathered pace that a breakthrough had been reached between GM and F1.
New Andretti owner Dan Towriss appears to have made a difference and in F1’s official statement on GM’s acceptance, he said: “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1.
“Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.
“We appreciate the FIA and FOM’s support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship.”
GM look set to use their Cadillac brand – rather than Andretti – when entering the sport but will very much be using the expertise and knowledge built up by their staff since launching their F1 project heading into 2026.
Journalist Adam Cooper has now shared a distinct advantage Cadillac will have over the rest of the grid heading into their maiden campaign.
The upcoming rule change means every team has to quickly learn what will work and what won’t, but Cadillac aren’t currently limited by any of F1’s testing rules.
Cadillac already testing 2026 car in the wind tunnel ahead of upcoming Formula 1 entry
Posting on X after F1’s announcement on Monday, Cooper said: “Worth noting that the Andretti/Cadillac aero guys have been busy for months working in Toyota’s Cologne tunnel on a car for the 2026 regs – which current teams can’t do until Jan 1 2025. A useful head start…”
A report from The Race added more details about the work going on within the American outfit ahead of a landmark step forward for the team.
They believe Cadillac’s staff numbers need to triple or even quadruple to be able to match their rivals.
READ MORE: Karun Chandhok shares what he found surprising about Formula 1’s 2026 Cadillac team announcement
That number will have to continue to grow as GM prepare their own power unit which will be ready by the end of the decade.
The report states that Andretti were doing plenty of aerodynamic work in Germany using Toyota’s wind tunnel and even some crash testing.
Toyota are now in partnership with Haas and it will be interesting to see whether that work now has to stop given their F1 entry has been approved.
The team have not been limited by F1’s regulations up to this point because it’s not officially been a Formula 1 team, allowing them to take an important step forward compared to the rest of the grid.
Cadillac must take advantage of unexpected head start over other F1 teams
The rest of the paddock will be allowed to start using their own wind tunnels from the 1st of January.
It’s unclear whether GM’s project will now be subject to the same ban, especially as Audi will argue that as another new entry, they should have been allowed to do the same thing.
READ MORE: F1 won’t ‘rule out’ 13-podium team rejoining the grid in ‘next five years’ ahead of GM/Cadillac entry
Ted Kravitz has suggested one driver Cadillac could sign, and the race to secure the two new seats on the grid will be extremely competitive.
Danica Patrick has told GM what they now need to do to succeed, but the task of being competitive in F1 is much easier said than done as Haas continue to search for their first podium finish nine years after making their debut.
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