Formula 1 announced this Wednesday, January 31, that it was rejecting the request from American Michael Andretti to enter his team with the eponymous name in the near future.
That is to say in 2025 or 2026. In a document made public this Wednesday, F1 details this decision which will get people talking around the paddocks.
According to her, Andretti simply would not bring added value to the discipline.
The application of the American Andretti Formula Racing team to become the 11th Formula 1 team was therefore rejected.
“Our evaluation process established that the presence of an 11th team would not bring added value to the championship.
The best way for a new team to bring added value would be to be competitive.
We do not believe that this candidate would be a competitive participant,” write the organizers of the Formula 1 World Championship.
With this slightly provocative addition: “Although the Andretti name is recognized by F1 fans, our research indicates that F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around.
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Andretti Global, one of the most powerful teams in the world
F1 allows itself to leave the door open to the arrival of the Andretti-Cadillac tandem on its circuits but not before… 2028.
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We would consider differently a candidacy for the 2028 championship with a General Motors powertrain, either as a GM factory team or as a GM customer team
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Andretti Global, formerly Andretti Autosport, is one of the most powerful teams in motorsport.
Launched in 1993, the American team is led today by Michael Andretti, son of Mario Andretti, F1 world champion in 1978. “Our goal is to be there in all the major events in world motorsport,” said recalled his boss last January.
Also read: F1: drivers, calendar, competition for Red Bull… What should we expect for the 2024 season?
Andretti is a priori the collateral victim of a conflict between the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the F1/Liberty Media duo.
The FIA quickly accepted the American request from Mario Andretti's son to arrive on the circuits.
Conversely, F1 slowed down completely for a more prosaic reason: the prospect of an 11th team would have resulted in lower revenues for the teams already present...