In the first formal response from the American automotive behemoth since Formula One (F1) rejected the bid on January 31, GM’s Vice President of Performance and Motorsport, Jim Campbell, asserted that the project was still advancing “at pace.”
Speaking at Daytona on Friday, Campbell reiterated that the team had sought a meeting with F1 following an IT mishap that led to an invitation from the commercial rights holder to Andretti in December being misplaced.
The bid received approval from the FIA in October before progressing to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and his team for further evaluation.
Last month’s dismissal raised doubts about the project’s potential competitiveness, particularly in its initial form with a Renault customer power unit. However, it left room for a potential reconsideration when Cadillac’s proprietary power unit is ready by 2028, positioning the team as a factory-supported entry.
“We have confidence in our application with Andretti,” Campbell affirmed. “The FIA scrutinized it alongside other applicants and endorsed our submission. Hence, despite FOM’s statement, we’ve requested a follow-up meeting to address any concerns. We firmly believe that Andretti and Cadillac possess the capabilities to field a competitive entry.”
Campbell dismissed any notion that GM took offense at the suggestion that the project might lack competitiveness. “We stand by the strength of our application,” he stated. “Our submission highlighted Andretti’s racing prowess and Cadillac’s engineering prowess. Hence, we remain optimistic and seek dialogue with FOM.”
Regarding the possibility of Cadillac’s power unit being ready earlier than 2028, Campbell explained the constraints imposed by FIA regulations. “Registering as a power unit supplier has a deadline, and ours was last June for the 2028 season,” he clarified. “To expedite engine development, registration would have been required the previous year. It’s a regulatory matter.”
