Wolff admits Cadillac joining Andretti is 'definitely a positive'

Toto Wolff believes that Andretti joining forces with GM and Cadillac for its F1 endeavor is "definitely a positive" and "a statement" on the part of the US outfit.

In the past year, Andretti's prospective F1 entry failed to gain traction with the sport's main constituents who adopted a protectionist stance against the American outfit's initiative.

A majority of F1 teams have pushed back against Andretti Global's efforts, as expanding Grand Prix racing's field from ten to eleven competitors would ultimately mean a dilution of the sport's prize money fund.

Last year, Wolff was a vocal opponent of Andretti's entry into F1, repeatedly stating that any new team would need to add significant value to the grid to gain an entry.

• Read also: Still 'a long way to go' in Andretti-Cadillac F1 process

Quizzed on Friday about Andretti's tie-up with GM and its Cadillac brand, Wolff appeared more constructive although the Mercedes boss remained evasive on whether he was in favour or not of the American outfit joining the grid in the future.

"Andretti is a great name but this is sport and this is business and we need to understand what is it that you can provide to the sport," said Wolff.

"And if an OEM or a multinational group joins F1 and can demonstrate that they are going to spend X amount of dollars in activating, in marketing; that's obviously a totally different value proposition for all the other teams.

"Cadillac and GM, that's a statement. Certainly, them joining forces with Andretti is definitely a positive," Wolff said.

"It gives it another angle that may or may not be beneficial for Formula 1, but definitely nobody would ever question GM's or Cadillac's pedigree in motorsport, and obviously as a global auto company."

Sitting alongside Wolff in Friday's media conference, outgoing Mercedes strategist James Vowles, speaking in his capacity as Williams' new team principal, said that F1 needed a better understanding of the value of the Andretti-Cadillac proposition.

"We're always open to the sport growing, but the truth behind it is the sport financially needs to become more and more successful," commented Vowles.

"Whoever joins in that environment needs to bring with it effectively the growth that is required in order for everyone else to be in a better position, or at least a neutral position.

"And I think it's been the statement from the outset, from the beginning.

"There are a lot of lovely things about Andretti and about Cadillac. It just needs to have a good understanding of how it will grow the sport, in what way, and what the growth will be."

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