‘We don’t pay for it’

The Formula 1 paddock is abuzz with rumors that General Motors may be entering the sport after all, but plenty of questions are being asked about the endeavor here in Las Vegas.

Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner has touched on the team’s potential entry, raising significant questions about the OEM’s financing and major concerns about logistics.

Christian Horner declares ‘we don’t pay’ for GM in F1

Late Thursday night, the Las Vegas Grand Prix paddock lit up: a rumor had arisen that an 11th Formula 1 team was on the way after all, and that General Motors would be the ones to undertake this venture.

In 2023, the FIA ​​opened an expression of interest, where manufacturers or other teams could apply to join the Formula 1 grid. One of those teams was Andretti Global, the motorsport company led by Michael Andretti. After Andretti signed on, General Motors signed a pledge that Cadillac would supply the team’s powerplants in the future.

However, that application came too late and Formula 1 ultimately rejected Andretti Global’s entry. However, it did leave the door open for Cadillac.

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Michael Andretti was cited as one of the main issues with Andretti’s entry, and earlier in 2024 the team boss resigned. In his place is Dan Towriss, a businessman who invested heavily in Andretti several years ago.

It’s currently unclear if Towriss is still involved, or if Cadillac will move this entry outside of the Andretti banner. But whatever the case, Red Bull boss Christian Horner had a lot to say about the potential eleventh team Sky Sports F1.

“There are a lot of rumors going around,” he says.

‘No one has talked to us about it, but who knows. Obviously, I think the arrival of an American team would be positive.

“We have Haas, but to have a big OEM – Ford versus GM could be quite sexy.”

However, Horner denied that he – or any other team – could influence decisions about the entry of future teams.

“It’s up to the commercial rights holder and the FIA,” he said, “and like all these things it comes down to the finances and how it’s going to be financed, and how it’s going to be paid for.

“As long as they can be accommodated logistically, we have absolutely no problem with GM coming here – but we’re not paying for it.”

That said, Horner already believes there are logistical issues worth noting – especially when it comes to splitting the prize money and adding an 11th garage at smaller race tracks.

“How does that work operationally, somewhere in Zandvoort?” thought Horner.

‘So we have no problem with them coming. We welcome them with open arms, but you don’t want the prize money to be diluted.

“The question will be: which side of the pie does it come from?”

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