According to Mario Andretti, the FIA is considering the possibility of adding a twelfth team to the grid. Is this a 2026 prospect?
Just a few weeks ago, the announcement of Team Cadillac joining Formula 1 starting from the 2026 season was made. The American team, fully supported by General Motors and Andretti, managed to secure a spot in the F1 Circus by paying a record sum of 450 million dollars to the teams already participating in the F1 World Championship.
However, the FIA wouldn’t be satisfied with just one team and is pushing for the entry of a twelfth team in the F1 World Championship. These are the words of Mario Andretti, who, in an interview with CBS, made the following statement: “It seems that the FIA has the authority to invite a new team to join. Our team, in addition to competing, could also become a supplier for other teams.”
Important words from the former Ferrari driver, which highlight the forward-thinking nature and strength of the American project. The plan is quite clear: in the first two seasons, Team Cadillac could use Ferrari‘s Power Unit, and from 2028, it is expected to use one produced directly by General Motors.
It’s no coincidence that at least 50 job positions have been opened within the team, which, according to initial reports, will be based near the Silverstone circuit. Cadillac, therefore, could represent the beginning of a new era for Formula 1—one of expansion.
The FIA could indeed benefit from the entry of another team, which would inevitably bring in capital and increased interest from the public. The Federation’s strategy lies in the possibility of expanding the Circus to a maximum of 24 cars without repeating the mistakes made in 2010, when teams like Caterham, Virgin, and HRT joined with performances that were light years away from the established teams.