F1 News: General Motors Remains "Confident" In Andretti Application Despite FOM Refusal
General Motors has not wavered in its optimism regarding the Andretti partnership's F1 application, even after Formula One Management's (FOM) initial rejection. Jim Campbell, GM's Vice President of Performance and Motorsport, underscored the project's continued momentum.
Key Takeaways:
- Despite FOM's initial refusal, General Motors and Andretti persist in their F1 application efforts with undiminished confidence.
- The partnership has requested a follow-up meeting with FOM, following the FIA's approval of their application.
- The historical success of Andretti and Cadillac in motorsports underpins their belief in a competitive F1 entry.
Andretti Press Image
Despite facing a setback from Formula One Management's decision not to accept the Andretti Cadillac bid to join the F1 grid, General Motors remains steadfast. Jim Campbell conveyed the partnership's determination and progress, stating to Autosport:
“In terms of our application with Andretti, we feel great about our application.
“The FIA studied it against other applicants, and then gave our application a vote of confidence and approval.
“So obviously the FOM made their statement, and we have asked for a follow up meeting with FOM, and so we will work through that. We do believe between Andretti and Cadillac that we have got the capability of fielding a competitive entry.
“We are not saying that it is easy, but we do between our two organisations have examples in our history of where we have been successful in other motorsports categories, and that is true of Cadillac and Andretti."
Campbell's comments reflect a robust confidence in the collaborative effort between Andretti and Cadillac, emphasising the synergy and mutual success in motorsports that both entities bring to the table. He further highlighted the ongoing development of their F1 car, stating:
“With that said, our joint teams are continuing to develop our car at pace. So, that is where we are at.”
The notion that GM might feel insulted by any insinuations regarding their competitiveness was downplayed by Campbell. He reiterated the strengths of their application, saying:
“As I said, we believe in the application we submitted,” he said. “And in that application we articulated the abilities of both Andretti as a race team, and Cadillac as a manufacturing and engineering entity.
“So, we feel confident in the application and are asking for a meeting with FOM.”
This persistence in seeking a place in Formula 1, despite FOM's initial rejection, demonstrates a significant commitment from both General Motors and Andretti.