{"id":30461,"date":"2023-02-04T18:56:10","date_gmt":"2023-02-04T22:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=30461"},"modified":"2023-02-04T18:56:10","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T22:56:10","slug":"payne-what-a-ford-vs-gm-f1-rivalry-would-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/payne-what-a-ford-vs-gm-f1-rivalry-would-look-like","title":{"rendered":"Payne: What a Ford vs. GM F1 rivalry would look like"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ford Motor Co.’s blockbuster announcement Friday that it is re-entering Formula 1 racing after 20 years and partnering with the Red Bull team sets up an epic rivalry with crosstown rival General Motors Co. and Andretti Autosport on the world’s biggest, priciest motor racing stage.<\/p>\n

Assuming GM and its partner get approval to enter the sport.<\/p>\n

The two Detroit automakers are entering F1 at different levels \u2014 Andretti and Cadillac (GM\u2019s designated brand for the series) is like an expansion team building from the ground up, while Ford is partnering with the reigning F1 champion Red Bull and its superstar driver, Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n

\"Christian<\/p>\n
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Andretti Cadillac\u2019s application to enter F1\u2019s 10-team, 20-car field has been controversial as existing teams debate sharing profits with another franchise. \u201cWe expect to have a decision soon from Formula 1,\u201d said Michael Andretti, CEO of Andretti Global, at the 24 Hours of Daytona last week.<\/p>\n

Red Bull, on the other hand, is one of the sport\u2019s titans, battling it out with Mercedes in recent years for F1 racing hegemony. If approved, Cadillac and Ford would go head-to-head \u2014 with other manufacturer-sponsored teams including Alfa Romeo, Renault and Ferrari \u2014 across 23 grand prix events on five continents trailing a train of private jets, shipping containers and semi-trucks in the world\u2019s most exotic circus before a global television mega-audience of 445 million people.<\/p>\n

\u201cFord-Red Bull and GM-Andretti is like comparing a tech giant like Apple with a startup,\u201d said Charles Bradley, veteran Formula 1 authority and global editor-in-chief of Motorsport.com. \u201cFord will expect to be competing for race wins from the start, with proven multiple world champions, while GM will likely suffer all the pitfalls associated with a team that\u2019s new to F1.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Andretti<\/p>\n
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Partnership aside, GM and Ford want into F1 for the same reasons: 1) because the sport\u2019s fastest-growing audience is in the United States thanks to the ownership of U.S.-based Liberty Media, the hit Netflix series \u201cDrive to Survive,\u201d and three grand prix in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas, and 2) because F1 is an opportunity for manufacturers to develop state-of-the-art hybrid engines and synthetic fuel technology as the industry focuses on electrification.<\/p>\n

The Red Bull-Ford announcement was made at a glitzy event in New York City where Red Bull unveiled the livery for its 2023 season car featuring title sponsor Oracle Corporation. Ford\u2019s official partnership with Red Bull would not take place until the 2026 season as Red Bull is currently using a Honda powerplant. Honda\u2019s decision not to renew its contract after 2025 set off a frenzied mating dance between Red Bull and other manufacturers.<\/p>\n