Lawrence Stroll: Cadillac engine news doesn’t change Andretti stance

Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll has reiterated his belief that Formula 1 does not need Andretti to join as its 11th team, despite the American team’s recent announcement that its partner Cadillac will manufacture its own engines from 2028.

Andretti hopes to join the grid as early as 2025 after his bid was approved by motorsport’s governing body the FIA ​​earlier this year. However, the US-based team has yet to agree a commercial deal with Formula One Management (FOM), who have so far been lukewarm to the idea of ​​an 11th team unless they can provide value significant to the series.

Andretti’s case seemed strengthened this week when Cadillac, which partnered with the team earlier this year, confirmed plans to build its own engines starting in 2028. In October, defending champion Red Bull challenged Cadillac to make its own powertrains in order to earn its place on the grid, but Stroll said the news did not change his position.

“No, it’s not,” Stroll told ESPN. “It’s really not my decision, it’s a decision between the FIA ​​and the FOM, our commercial rights holder, but I think the business works very well with ten teams.

“And I’m a firm believer that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, so I think that’s just the way it is.”

Stroll believes any new team wanting to join F1 should sign up by buying an existing team – as German carmaker Audi is doing with Sauber – rather than being given an 11th place in the paddock.

“Look what Audi did, Audi wanted to get into the sport and they bought a team,” he added. “The right way to get in if you want to get into the NFL today, NHL hockey or any major sports franchise, is to buy a team.

“Then it’s just a question of money, so I think if they want to participate, they should buy a team like others have done.”

Aston Martin will enter the next round of engine regulations in 2026 with Honda power, once the Japanese engine manufacturer severs its remaining ties with Red Bull.

Stroll believes he will then have “the best of the best” to power his cars and doubts that a possible Andretti-Cadillac team poses a serious threat.

“I’m not worried from a competitive point of view. For starters, a clean sheet of paper is a very difficult thing to do in this sport, even with years of history.

“But look, I wish them luck and, as I mentioned, it’s really not my decision, it’s up to the FIA ​​and the FOM. We’ll see what they decide.”