Andretti Cadillac has third party F1 power unit agreement

©IndyCar

40

Andretti Global and General Motors which announced on Thursday a joint venture to enter a team in F1 under the Cadillac brand already have a conditional agreement in place with a power unit supplier.

The Andretti Cadillac Racing entity will submit its candidacy as part of the FIA's expected 'Expressions of Interest' process by which the governing body will gauge the interest and validity of potential new F1 teams.

GM president Mark Reuss alluded to an agreement with a third party power unit supplier but hinted at GM bringing its "expertise" to the prospective F1 team in the future.

"We have a signed agreement with a power unit supplier to begin with and then as we move forward, we bring a lot of our expertise to create things for the future as well," Reuss said on Thursday.

"It would be more a collaboration with another manufacturer," added Michael Andretti.

Read also: Andretti and GM to bring Cadillac brand to F1!

Given Andretti's previous agreement with Renault to use its engines when the US outfit ambitioned to join the grid on its own, the French manufacturer is suspected to be the new entity's partner of choice.

BUT GM also has a working relationship with Honda – its rival engine supplier in IndyCar – in the EV arena. But that does not imply a tie-up for F1 for the two manufacturers insisted Reuss.

"On the EV part of it we do have a larger partnership with Honda but also compete against them in series like IndyCar as well, so we have that natural respect and relationship which is not problematic at all.

"We’ll talk about the engine piece of this at a later date."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.