MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Apparently, Formula One loves everything about the United States except a team owned by former racer Michael Andretti.
On Wednesday, Formula One rejected Michael Andretti’s bid for a new Formula One team in 2025. The decision was made by the Formula One commercial rights holders.
But Formula One Management (FOM), said there is a possibility to expand to 11 teams in 2028.
According to Motorsport.com, FOM said in its lengthy statement that it “did not feel Andretti justified a spot on the grid over the next few years,” despite the fact the FIA was supporting Andretti’s effort.
In October, the FIA announced that it believed Andretti’s “technical capabilities were strong enough” for a Formula One bid.
In January 2023, Andretti Global announced that General Motors and its Cadillac brand would be the engine partner in the perspective Formula One effort. F1 rules required the team to use customer power units from 2025 or 2026 while Cadillac was preparing its F-1 engines.
F-1 would rather wait until Cadillac actually has a Formula One engine in place before a team could join the Formula One grid.
“We 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,” the F-1 statement said. “In this case there would be additional factors to consider in respect of the value that the Applicant would bring to the Championship, in particular in respect of bringing a prestigious new OEM to the sport as a PU supplier.”
Following the news, Andretti Cadillac released a statement.
“Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents. Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organizations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F-1, competing alongside the world’s best.
“We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace.
“Andretti Cadillac would also like to acknowledge and thank the fans who have expressed their support.”
1978 F-1 champion Mario Andretti, father of Michael Andretti, took to X to give his thoughts on the news.
“I’m devastated. I won’t say anything else because I can’t find any other words besides devastated.”
I'm devastated. I won't say anything else because I can't find any other words besides devastated. pic.twitter.com/UaFBC5n9qF
— Mario Andretti (@MarioAndretti) January 31, 2024
Last summer, F-1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, addressed the lengthy and convoluted decision-making process.
“As we always said, we need to make sure that the decision is right for the business,” Domenicali said. “And this is what I think is the duty of the FIA and us together, that has to be taken.”
Per Formula One procedure in the Concorde Agreement, a new team needs to have a commercial deal in place with F1’s owner, US-based Liberty Media, before it could compete.
F-1 teams were adamant that it did not want to expand from 10 teams to 11 because it would reduce each team’s share of Formula One revenues.
“Our assessment process has established that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the championship,” according to the statement. “The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant.”
Later in the statement, it said an additional two-car team would strain the capabilities of race promoters.
“The addition of an 11th team would place an operational burden on race promoters, would subject some of them to significant costs, and would reduce the technical, operational and commercial spaces of the other competitors,” the statement continued.
“We were not able to identify any material expected positive effect on CRH financial results, as a key indicator of the pure commercial value of the championship.”