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Renault talks with Andretti-Cadillac stall after F1 rejects bid for 2026

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Armaan Agarwal | Last updated 2/10/24

Andretti-Cadillac‘s bid for 2026 has been rejected by Formula 1. The all-American entry will not be entering the sport for now. Formula One Management (FOM) cited that Michael Andretti‘s team would not have added sufficient value to the sport to justify its entry for now. Alpine’s Vice President of Motorsport and Team Principal Bruno Famin has affirmed that discussions over a power unit supply with Andretti have come to a halt.

Alpine is Renault’s works F1 team with the power units still labeled as Renault for now. Famin mentioned that the French team had a pre-contract to supply Andretti-Cadillac till 2028 when General Motors would have its F1 power units under the Cadillac brand. However, the Frenchman claimed that the American bid needed to get greenlit from F1 for this deal to go ahead.

We had a pre-contract and after nothing happened. But it was related to the [condition] for Andretti to have this entry. For the time being, they have no entry... Since FOM has given [its] answer. I have had no discussions at all Bruno Famin told Motorsport.com

F1 has made it clear that Andretti-Cadillac will not join the sport in 2026. Although, FOM has left the door open for a possible entry in 2028 when GM brings its own power units. Bruno Famin pointed out that Renault will look into the American team in the future when things get more concrete. However, Andretti might not require Renault power units if it joins the grid in 2028.

I read, like you, what FOM said about 2028. Let's see what will be the future after that.

Can Andretti-Cadillac join Formula 1 in 2028?

Andretti-Cadillac has not won F1’s confidence to become the eleventh team on the grid. FOM asked to meet representatives of the American entry before making a decision on the bid. However, Michael Andretti’s team claimed that it never received an invitation from Formula 1 regarding the same. Although, it was later found out that the email had been in the junk folder of the team.

Certainly, Michael Andretti is willing to continue his fight to join Formula 1. However, chances for the American team are slim. Subsequently, the American entry will have to wait till 2028 to potentially compete at the pinnacle of motorsport as an eleventh squad.

Fans will have to wait till Andretti-Cadillac could make its way to Formula 1. The American squad has continued to face backlash from existing teams and experts in the past few months. However, it remains to be seen if Michael Andretti’s ambitions of an F1 team can be fulfilled in the future.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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