Wolff changes position: 'If GM want to be in F1, a different story'
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
Toto Wolff made no secret of it for years. The CEO and team principal of the Mercedes F1 team - like most F1 team principals - openly had his doubts about Andretti Global possibly entering Formula 1. In short, Andretti did not bring in enough to add value to the 'F1 table'. On the day it was announced that General Motors are about to join F1 in 2026, Wolff was a lot more positive.
In advance, the ten teams in Formula One have not been informedofficially by the FIA and Formula One Management that Cadillac will join as an 11th team. Yet when asked in Las Vegas about the likely arrival of the American team, Wolff said, "We have an obligation, a statutory obligation as directors to present the standpoint that is the best for our company and for our employees, and we've done that so in the past."
"I think if a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story. And as long as it is creative, that means we're growing the popularity of the sport, we're growing the revenue of the sport, then no team will be ever against it. So I'm putting my hope in there," the Austrian continued to explain.
Wolff finds General Motors 'great'
Wolff stated that no one from Andretti, Andretti Global 'or whatever the name will be' has explained to him what the possible plans are. "But they don't need to because the teams don't decide. It is the commercial rights holder, with the FIA, we have no say. We can have an opinion, like I'm having here now, it's just if i want to be invited to a party and going to the party, I'm sitting down on the table and telling who I am and why I'm really good fun and sitting here and everybody will enjoy my presence," Wolff said.
"I don't know the people. I've obviously spoken to Mario [Andretti]. Yes, I've spoken to Mario once. I didn't speak to his son. I didn't speak to any other people that are behind that. I don't know who they are. So I know GM. GM is great."
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi
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