Formula One announced Monday that “an agreement in principle” has been reached “with General Motors to support bringing GM/Cadillac” to the grid as the sport’s 11th team in 2026.

“We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1,” Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Global’s motorsport business, said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world. We appreciate the FIA and FOM’s support of our application and their recognition of the value we can bring to the championship.’’

“General Motors and Cadillac’s commitment to this project is an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport,” said F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali. We look forward to seeing the progress and growth of this entry, certain of the full collaboration and support of all the parties involved.”

This comes after news broke during the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend that General Motors was nearing approval to join the grid in 2026. Andretti Global initially put forward the bid, which included GM building its power unit in 2028, but F1 rejected it. Still, the project continued.

Andretti has undergone restructuring recently, with Michael Andretti leaving his operational role and Dan Towriss taking over.

It seemed the grid may be open to welcoming GM, based on comments made during Thursday’s news conference. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff said, “We have an obligation, a statutory obligation as directors to present the standpoint that is the best for our company and for our employees, and we’ve done that so in the past. I think if a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story. And as long as it is creative, that means we’re growing the popularity of the sport, we’re growing the revenue of the sport, then no team will be ever against it. So I’m putting my hope in there.”

What it means 

A prominent American manufacturer with an extensive motorsports history joining the grid could bring fresh eyes to the sport, but it also means the prize money will be split up even more. This will be the first team to join the grid since Haas in 2016, and the sport has had 10 teams on the grid since 2017. F1 has said before that it was open to a GM works team. When it rejected Andretti’s big, F1 said it “would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 championship with a GM power unit, either as a GM works team or as a GM customer team designing all allowable components in-house.”

However, GM will need another customer power unit. It planned to have its F1 engine ready in 2028, two years into the new regulations. New teams joining the grid must add something, which GM does by becoming an engine manufacturer.

The plan is still for GM to enter through its Cadillac brand. According to F1’s press release, “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the eleventh team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time.”

There will still be Andretti involvement, though it remains to be seen how much. GM’s announcement includes the news that Mario Andretti, the last American F1 world champion, will be on the team’s board, serving as the director.

“My first love was Formula 1, and now – 70 years later – the F1 paddock is still my happy place. I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss,” Andretti said in the announcement. “To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

According to GM’s press release, the other power player involved is TWG Global, which is a holding company that “owns and operates” Andretti Global. As for the Department of Justice’s investigation into F1’s Andretti rejection, what will happen remains to be seen.

Required reading

(Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A dropped pass. Then a missed tackle. Ultimately a 51-yard touchdown by the Baltimore Ravens that spelled the end of the Chargers’ four-game winning streak.

Searching for an opportunity to establish themselves as legitimate playoff threats, the Chargers instead found mistakes and another anemic second-half offense in a 30-23 loss to the Ravens on Monday at SoFi Stadium.

The Ravens (8-4) rushed for 212 yards, a season-high for a Chargers opponent, led by 140 from Derrick Henry. Instead of the towering 6-foot-3 Henry, however, it was Justice Hill — a 5-10, 195-pound former fourth-round pick — who made the decisive play, scoring on a 51-yard run with 7:24 remaining.

The game-breaking touchdown was set up by a dropped pass on third and six by Quentin Johnston on the Chargers’ previous possession when they trailed by seven. The second-year receiver had a wide-open catch with plenty of room to run, but the ball glanced off his hands. He shook his head as he retreated to the sideline, where teammates gave him encouraging taps on the shoulder.

Still, the damage was done.

Instead of allowing the Chargers’ defense to rest on the sideline, the drop let the Ravens continue a run of five straight scoring drives.

While the Ravens controlled the game with their punishing running game, the Chargers (7-4) went three and out on their first two fourth-quarter drives, mimicking last week’s late-game struggles against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Chargers stirred back to life just in time against the Bengals, but couldn’t find a similar lifeline Monday against Lamar Jackson. The two-time most valuable player threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-22 passing and ran for a score.

Against the quarterback known for his elusive and shifty scrambling, it was Justin Herbert who made the first big play with his legs. The Chargers quarterback opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run on a clinical opening drive.

Other than a no-gain rush on the opening play of the game, the Chargers earned positive yardage on each play to march down the field in nine plays. After former Ravens running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards alternated jabs on the ground, Herbert punched into the end zone with a scramble up the middle.

Herbert, who fumbled last week while scrambling, hugged the ball tight under his chin with both arms as he ran through the end zone and up the sideline toward his coaches.

While Herbert had the Chargers soaring early, Jackson was sailing his passes high. He connected on just one of his first four passes as the Chargers built a 10-0 lead.

But Jackson quickly announced himself with his 10-yard touchdown run with 7:48 remaining in the second quarter that sparked Baltimore’s steady scoring spree.

Herbert finished with 218 yards passing, completing 21 of 36 passes. Although he scored on the ground, Herbert was without a passing touchdown for a second time this season.

The Zamboni is an institution in hockey.

Anyone who grew up attending hockey games as a child likely has fond memories of the machine slowly circling the rink, humming along while leaving a pristine, glistening sheet of ice in its wake. Perhaps some even had the honor of riding shotgun, listening to the 1990 song “(I Wanna Drive the) Zamboni” by the Gear Daddies.

For those who played hockey at any level, the Zamboni has served as a universal clock for the start of the game. You’re in your dressing room lacing up your skates when a teammate walks through the door and says, “The Zam has two turns left,” and suddenly everyone in the room knows exactly how much time they have to finish getting dressed.

The Zamboni is so iconic the actual name for the machine — ice resurfacer — is rarely if ever spoken. Perhaps the only way to make the vehicle more revered by hockey lovers, is to fill it with delicious food.

That’s exactly what the Vegas Golden Knights have done.

The team’s newest promotion is selling small, plastic Zambonis at concession stands inside T-Mobile Arena, filled with chicken fingers and fries.

“It was something that would be memorable for all fans, something that is unique to the game of hockey, and something that was just very different from a traditional bucket or cup that would create a lasting experience,” said Kris Knief, the Golden Knights’ vice president of strategy and innovation. “It’s one of the most iconic elements of hockey. It’s not just youth-driven. It’s every demographic across the board.”

The chicken-filled Zamboni costs approximately $30, and the sales are already exceeding the team’s expectations. They sold more than 2,000 units during the first 10 home games.

“We didn’t know if this would be sticky or not, but in the end the sentiment has been fantastic,” Knief said. “We’re getting calls from several different NHL clubs around the league, and Levy (a restaurant and hospitality company that supplies food and beverage for T-Mobile Arena) is looking at other elements of what this concept could be for different venues outside of the traditional core-four sports.”

Kid is obsessed with Zambonis and calls them “momma” which is incredible. Gravy boat is definitely second to chicken finger basket Zamboni. pic.twitter.com/OQsymyOFnp

— Everett Duke (@Everett_Duke) November 20, 2024

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The chicken buckets aren’t the only Zamboni-themed promotion for the Golden Knights this season. The team also created a special ticket package for the Nov. 11 game against the Hurricanes that included a Zamboni gravy boat — a promotion that is becoming a popular trend around the NHL.

Vegas’ ticketing department generally orders 500 units for each special collectible giveaway in order to make it rare or exclusive, but Vegas knew the demand for the Zambonis would be much higher than usual.

“We doubled the order size just because we knew it was going to be such a success,” said Amanda Fleming, senior director of group and event suite ticket sales for the Golden Knights.

Fans received the gravy boat as a part of their single-game tickets, and the team also offered season-ticket holders who already have tickets the chance to add the gravy boat on for an additional $45. The gravy boats are currently selling on eBay for around $65, but there haven’t been too many that have made it to the secondary market yet.

“As you would imagine, it was one of our largest add-ons to date,” Fleming said.

The Golden Knights didn’t invent the gravy boat promotion. The Detroit Red Wings have been producing them for years, and ran their promotion this month. Other NHL teams, such as the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, will be doing gravy-boat giveaways. But as with just about everything, Vegas did have to put its own twist on it by painting it in chrome gold.

“The factory pushed back a couple of times just because you can’t microwave that chrome material, or put it in the dishwasher, but we really wanted the look and feel of what is true to the VGK brand that we’ve created,” Fleming explained.

Kitchen tables across the Las Vegas Valley will be glistening with gold Zambonis overflowing with gravy this Thanksgiving. The gleaming, lustrous centerpieces are sure to spark conversation, which is exactly what the team is hoping for.

“Our anticipation is to continue to evolve with more holiday, family talking points,” Fleming said. “We started with the apron (giveaway last season). We have a few more ideas in the mix to continue to bring Golden Knights merchandise to the family setting.”

The creative process is a lengthy one. Fleming says the team begins brainstorming ideas in March for promotions for the following season. That leaves plenty of time for them to work out the licensing and overseas production.

Vegas typically has approximately 20 special ticket packages throughout the season. They held an “Emo Knight” in October with distressed graphic t-shirt giveaways and puck rock music in the arena, and will host “Hello Kitty Knight” in late January.

The minor league AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, have followed suit. They gave team-themed Zamboni gravy boats to the first 5,000 fans in attendance for their game against the Abbotsford Canucks on Nov. 22.

we know what your holiday season needs! 🎁 pic.twitter.com/m8iSR2Yphp

— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) November 7, 2024

The Zamboni-themed promotions are a universal success, so expect plenty more to come. Whether you need your ice resurfaced, your mashed potatoes smothered, or your chicken fingers kept warm, there’s a Zamboni for that.

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(Top photo courtesy of Vegas Golden Knights)