F1 News: Red Bull Chief Champions GM For Grid Entry But Offers Alternative Solution To Andretti

"Ford versus GM would be fantastic"

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed that Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media must put forward a proposal before the teams on how it plans to make Andretti Cadillac a part of F1 in the future. 

Andretti Cadillac got a step closer to reaching the F1 grid after the FIA approved its entry into the sport. However, the next step of the scrutineering is to be conducted by Formula One Management to understand the team's existing commercial and financial position.

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We all know how the majority of existing team bosses have always been against the entry of an 11th team on the grid, mostly because the prize money would now have to be distributed among 11 teams (assuming Andretti Cadillac makes it through) instead of 10. 

Speaking about the concerns to Sky Sports F1, Horner said:

"I see this very much as an issue between FIA and Liberty.

"FIA are the regulator, Liberty are the promoter, and therefore they control the funding of the sport.

"Of course, another team coming in, how is that going to be funded? I think those guys need to get together and come to us with a proposal of what they want.

"I think that to have GM coming in particular into F1 is a massively positive thing. We're seeing Ford coming back in '26, Ford versus GM would be fantastic.

"I think they need to do their own engine, and I think that when you look at how Audi has come into the sport, they've acquired an existing team and an existing franchise, should it be different for the others?

"I think that's where Liberty and the FIA need to get together and come to us with a collective position. Because you can't have one rule for one, and another for others."

When asked if the engine was the main issue, Horner added how the prize money was going to be split into smaller chunks was a matter of concern. He said:

"Obviously, money makes the world go round.

"That's what every team will be acutely sensitive of, and the franchise value being diluted. Suddenly you go from 10 to 11. So, of course, the stakeholders, the shareholders of each individual team will have a concern about that.

"About six years ago, there were four teams on the brink of leaving. I think the sport has turned itself around, it's reinvented itself, and it's in great shape and huge strength now. And of course, those 10 teams are effectively now franchises. And they have a value.

"Their shareholders will be looking to protect their value in that investment. They've invested across the team billions and billions of dollars or pounds.

"I think the teams will be looking to see, okay, what does this landscape look like, both commercially and operationally?"

F1 News: FIA Officially Approves Andretti Cadillac To Join Formula One Grid

Another challenge that Horner pointed out was the lack of infrastructure at some venues that would be unable to host an eleventh team as of today. He added:

"Let's face it, where would we put them in Zandvoort, for example? 

"So I think there's some operational issues to overcome as well.

"I think that's for Liberty and the FIA to get together, come to us with a proposal and then we can all consider it."