On 31st January 2024, F1 announced that they had rejected Andretti’s bid to enter the Formula 1 grid in 2025 or 2026. However, the door has been left open for entry from 2028.
In a statement released by Formula 1 earlier today, It was announced that the American team, who currently compete in Formula E, Extreme E, and IndyCar, had had their assessment rejected due to the belief that ‘an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the championship’. Formula 1 went on to explain that this decision comes mostly on commercial grounds, stating that an additional team on the grid should compete in a way which would ‘materially increase fan engagement and would also increase the value of the Championship in the eyes of key stakeholders and sources of revenue such as broadcasters and race promoters’. Formula 1 further elaborated on the commercial and branding side of their decision by stating their thoughts that ‘F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around’.
In response to the news, Mario Andretti, 1978 Formula 1 World Champion and father of Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti, took to X (formerly Twitter, @MarioAndretti) to say that he was devastated, and ‘won’t say anything else because [he] can’t find any other words besides devastated’. A recent statement by the team rejects the idea that it would not be competitive, saying 'Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents.' They further added that they are making 'significant progress' in their development of a 'highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it.'
Formula 1 has said that it ‘would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 Championship with a GM power unit’, referring to the General Motors brand who have backed Andretti’s entry campaign thus far. GM, who work closely with Andretti through their luxury Cadillac brand, have previously said they will build an F1 power unit which will be ready for use in the 2028 season, so it seems Formula 1 would prefer Andretti to enter alongside GM instead of using an alternate engine until 2028.
Attention now turns to Andretti’s next moves, and whether today’s decision leads them to want to enter the sport in 2028 or results in them giving up on their aims to compete in Formula 1 for the time being.
Opmerkingen