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Reuters

Formula One will become even more of a “battle of giants” with the arrival in 2026 of General Motors’ Cadillac brand as an 11th team, according to RB boss Laurent Mekies.
The Frenchman told reporters at the Qatar Grand Prix that the entry of the US carmaker, announced this week, was positive.
“It’s going to be pretty much all car manufacturers probably, except for Williams and us,” he added.
“Even Haas is also linked to a car manufacturer now … it’s another sign that the sport is going towards the direction of a battle of giants.”
US-owned Haas, the newest team on the starting grid and in private ownership, recently announced a technical partnership with Toyota.

Red Bull Racing, RB’s big sister team, are producing their own engine from 2026 in partnership with Ford.
Of the others, Alpine are owned by Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes have their own works teams while Sauber are becoming Audi in 2026.
Aston Martin will have Honda as exclusive partners and McLaren are a sports car maker in their own right.
Mike Krack, principal of Aston Martin, said GM and Cadillac still faced a “monumental task” to get everything in place for 2026 with a new set of regulations.
The BBC reported this week that the initial anti-dilution fee, split between the existing teams, would be US$450m but Williams’ boss James Vowles said that had yet to be decided.

“I don’t think there’s actually any defined amount of dilution fee. I think that’s a part of a 2026 Concorde [Agreement], which hasn’t been ratified at this point,” he explained.
A previous bid by Cadillac with Andretti Global was rejected in January by Liberty Media-owned Formula One, who doubted it would be competitive or add value.
That triggered an investigation by the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee into possible “anticompetitive conduct”.
Team bosses, who had no say in the matter but had previously been against an expansion, felt General Motors coming in as Cadillac with their own power unit from 2028 had made the difference.
“It isn’t the same proposition that was there before, inasmuch as there’s a serious commitment and amount of investment going behind it,” said Vowles.
Other insiders felt little had changed beyond the removal of the Andretti team name and Michael Andretti as leader, and that the US probe was key.
Drivers welcomed the addition of two more cars.

“It’s the first time in my career that there’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s exciting,” said Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
“That will obviously give more opportunities to very talented young drivers that are dreaming to get into Formula One.”
The new team, as Andretti, has already recruited senior staff – several who were at Renault – and set up a factory at Silverstone. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who won two championships with Renault, said they had the experience.
“A new team is never an easy task, but I think they will be well prepared and they have the right people. So, yeah, welcome,” he said.


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Formula One (F1)

Qatar Grand Prix: Formula 1 will be a ‘battle of giants’ with entry of GM, says RB boss

Formula One on Monday announced an “agreement in principle” for General Motors’ Cadillac brand to join the grid as the 11th team from 2026. Photo: dpa

RB team principal Laurent Mekies (right) told reporters that the entry of GM was a positive. Photo: AFP

Williams team principal James Vowles says there is “a serious commitment” behind the GM bid. Photo: AFP

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc says he welcomes the addition of two more cars onto the starting grid. Photo: dpa

Qatar GP: Formula 1 focus shifts as McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull fight for constructors’ title

McLaren driver Lando Norris leads his team’s push to win the constructors’ title in Qatar this weekend. Photo: EPA-EFE

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is the only driver at the top three teams without a race win this year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Cadillac to join F1 grid in 2026, 13-year-old’s US$100k IPL deal, Newcastle get Hammered

West Ham United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka celebrates scoring his side’s second at St James’ Park. Photo: Reuters

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen crosses the finish line at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Photo: Xinhua

Macau Grand Prix: all eyes on Dino Beganovic, but it’s Ugochukwu starting on pole

SJM Theodore Prema Racing driver Dino Beganovic during the FIA FR World Cup second practise session of the 71st Macau Grand Prix. Photo: AFP

R-ace-GP US driver Ugo Ugochukwu works his way around the Macau Grand Prix circuit during the rain-affected FIA FR World Cup qualification race. Photo: AFP

Las Vegas Grand Prix: Lando Norris ‘wasn’t ready’ for Formula One title fight

McLaren driver Lando Norris says he was “pretty down” after the Brazilian Grand Prix because things were “pretty much out of my control now”. Photo: EPA-EFE

Max Verstappen (right) walking by performers on Las Vegas Strip ahead of this weekend’s race. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Laurent Mekies says with the entry of the US carmaker, ‘it’s going to be pretty much all car manufacturers … except for Williams and us’


Laurent Mekies says with the entry of the US carmaker, ‘it’s going to be pretty much all car manufacturers … except for Williams and us’.


General Motors