F1 agrees in principle to add General Motors to grid in 2026

F1 legend Mario Andretti speaks to Fox News Digital about Formula 1's popularity in the United States.

Formula 1 on Monday announced it "reached an agreement in principle" to add a General Motors-partnered team to the grid in 2026.

The 11th team on the grid will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The announcement came on the heels of a successful Las Vegas Grand Prix in which Max Verstappen wrapped up his fourth consecutive title.

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Mercedes driver George Russell leads the field during the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt York)

"As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM president Mark Reuss said.

"This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level."

The new American team’s approval came following a Department of Justice investigation into why Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, wouldn’t approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, the son of F1 legend Mario Andretti.

Michael Andretti scaled back his role in the organization so the new team could be run by Towriss and Walter. Mario Andretti suggested to Fox News Digital over the weekend that American approval was coming around the final turn.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during qualifying for the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)