Andretti Faces Setback in F1 Ambitions: Acquisition or Rejection?

Andretti, an American racing team, has been pursuing entry into Formula 1 (F1) for the 2025 or 2026 seasons. However, their bid has been rejected by F1’s commercial rights holders, Liberty Media, although there is a possibility for entry in 2028. The president of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, initially supported Andretti’s bid. However, he advised Andretti to consider acquiring an existing F1 team instead of becoming the 11th team on the grid. Ben Sulayem emphasized the importance of quality over quantity when expanding the number of teams in F1.

Reasons for the Rejection

F1 decision to reject Andretti’s bid was based on several factors. F1 conducted an analysis involving key stakeholders and concluded that an 11th team would not add value to the championship and that the applicant would not be a competitive participant. Additionally, F1 felt that Andretti’s proposal for entry in 2025 or 2026 was lacking.

One of the concerns raised by F1 was Andretti’s engine situation. F1 rules require the team to use customer power units from 2025 or 2026, and it was uncertain whether Andretti had secured a suitable engine deal. F1 stated that it would look differently on an application for entry in 2028 if Andretti had a General Motors (GM) power unit ready.

Potential Acquisition of Existing Teams

Ben Sulayem suggested that Andretti should consider purchasing an existing F1 team instead of establishing their own. However, it is unclear which teams Ben Sulayem had in mind. Potential candidates for acquisition include Alpine and Haas. However, sources within F1 indicate that neither Alpine’s owners, Renault, nor US industrialist Gene Haas are interested in selling their respective teams.

Controversy and Anti-Trust Inquiry

Andretti’s bid to enter F1 has been a subject of controversy, leading to tensions with senior figures in the sport. The rejection of Andretti’s bid has prompted six US senators to request an anti-trust inquiry against F1. General Motors, which is backing Andretti’s bid, has expressed its intention to develop its own engine to facilitate entry in 2028.

Future Possibilities

Despite the rejection, Ben Sulayem expressed confidence that F1 and Liberty Media would welcome new teams on the grid, particularly if they are car manufacturers (OEMs). The focus, however, remains on maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of the sport.

In summary, Andretti’s bid to enter Formula 1 for the 2025 or 2026 seasons has been rejected by F1’s commercial rights holders. The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem advised Andretti to consider acquiring an existing team instead.

The possibility of entry in 2028 remains open but it is uncertain which teams Andretti could potentially acquire. The bid has been a subject of controversy and there have been calls for an anti-trust inquiry. General Motors is backing Andretti’s bid and plans to develop its own engine for entry in 2028.