Tough rejection of ex-driver
“No added value”: Formula 1 refuses to accept team
January 31, 2024, 8:50 p.m
For the time being, ex-racing driver Michael Andretti will not be able to enter the premier motorsport class. After a detailed investigation, Formula 1 gives a hard thumbs down. Those responsible are questioning the competitiveness of an eleventh team.
After months of review, Formula 1 has clearly rejected the start of an Andretti racing team in Formula 1 next year. Unlike the world automobile association Fia, which had fueled the hopes of former racing driver Michael Andretti, the Formula 1 leadership came to the conclusion that an eleventh team would not be of any use to the racing series from next year. “Our evaluation process has shown that the existence would not add any added value to the championship,” it said in the statement. But the door is still open for 2028.
At the beginning of October, the project by former US racing driver Michael Andretti received approval from the FIA, the world automobile association. However, there were negative reactions from the ten existing teams at the time, they feared financial losses – the newcomer would have to ensure significantly higher revenues. Formula 1 Management (FOM) shares this view, but also has other concerns. “The most important way a new entrant can have value is through its competitiveness. We do not believe the applicant would be competitive,” the letter said.
Andretti would benefit more from Formula 1
The name Andretti has a certain level of recognition among Formula 1 fans, “but our research shows that Formula 1 would bring more value to the Andretti brand than the other way around,” explained the management of the racing series. Andretti had already published pictures of a car in the former Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne. The design has been in progress there since October.
Formula 1 also justified the decision with the major engine rule reform from 2026. Building a car and engine for just 2025 and thus being competitive, and then producing a completely new drive for 2026, was considered practically hopeless. In two years, half of the engines will be combustion engines and half will be electric, and they will also run on 100 percent sustainable fuel.
Opportunity to start only in four years?
Formula 1 still sees an opportunity for Andretti to get started, but only in four years. Then General Motors wants to cooperate with Andretti in the racing series as an independent engine supplier. When the US car manufacturer announced this, FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem was pleased. “The presence of the American cult brands Andretti and GM strengthens the long-term sustainability of the sport,” he emphasized. The head of the International Automobile Association is a supporter of further entrants; his association also gave the Andretti application the green light.
The current teams were skeptical about the plans from the start. You would then have to share the proceeds with another racing team. Currently, a newcomer has to pay around 189 million euros as compensation, which is distributed among the existing teams. However, the racing teams are pushing for this payment to be increased significantly.