Formula 1 has rejected a bid from the US-based Andretti team to enter the sport before 2026. He stated that the offer was rejected outright but left the option open for another application in 2028.
The team, run by former F1 driver Michael Andretti and his father Mario, the 1978 F1 world champion, was approved by the sport’s governing body, the FIA, but was ruled out by commercial rights holders because Mario, the 1978 F1 world champion, said the team would neither be competitive nor add value to the championship.
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The decision was expected but will still be controversial due to widespread public support for Andretti’s entry as F1’s 11th team. Their bid was made in conjunction with manufacturer Cadillac, which is owned by General Motors.
In a lengthy statement published on Wednesday, F1 explained the reasoning behind the rejection but also said another application would be considered for 2028, when the team could have additional weight from General Motors as power unit supplier.
In October last year, after a long and comprehensive evaluation, the FIA approved Andretti’s entry. But getting approval from F1 was always going to be a more difficult hurdle.
Of the 10 teams available, there was opposition concerned that an 11th team would dilute the sport’s share of revenue without significantly increasing revenue.
F1’s owners, Formula 1 Management, have publicly expressed their concerns that the new entrant will not add value to the sport and damage F1’s reputation by proving uncompetitive. They carried out their own in-depth business assessment and decided that the potential risks of accepting a new entry were not significantly offset by any additional value the team would bring.
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Their conclusion included research suggesting that it would be Andretti rather than F1 who would be the real beneficiary of their inclusion; showed the organizers the cost of adjusting to hosting an 11th team; the lack of any signs of financial recovery in the value of the business side of the sport and the difficulties faced in introducing a new team to the game using customer power unit in a period that includes a major regulation change in 2026.
F1’s final outcome would be a major blow for the Andretti operation, which is already investing in staff and working on a potential car at 60% its size in the wind tunnel.
“Our evaluation process has revealed that the existence of the 11th team alone will not provide value to the championship,” the F1 statement said. The statement was included. “The most important way for a new entrepreneur to bring value is to be competitive. We do not believe the applicant will be a competitive entrant.”
Andretti gave a harsh response stating that they objected to the decision. “Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information shared by Formula One Management Limited and strongly disagrees with its content,” he said. “Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsport organizations committed to putting a truly American working team into F1 to race alongside the best in the world. “We are proud of the significant progress we have made in developing a competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at full speed.”
Andretti could still potentially take legal action, especially given the almost unprecedented situation in which the offer was approved by the FIA but rejected by F1.
The FIA appears to have done so without consulting F1 when it introduced new bids for involvement in the sport. It was a move that worsened already strained relations between the two bodies, given that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had initiated the process and was openly in favor of giving a place to the 11th team.
The Andretti team’s entry was considered a credible and realistic entry by fans, particularly in the US, with many taking issue with F1 teams’ opposition to accepting the new competition.
Andretti’s team has also enjoyed success in other series, including four IndyCar championships, six wins in the Indy 500 and the 2023 drivers’ championship in Formula E. In October last year, their bid was firmly backed by Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
“That’s more job opportunities, two more seats for a potential female driver to win,” Hamilton said. “This opens up more possibilities and I think it will be exciting for the race.”
Its partnership with Cadillac and General Motors was also felt to be a major selling point, as was the respect the Andretti name had in motor racing. However, F1 was unsure if this would have a positive impact on the sport.
“While the Andretti name carries some recognition for F1 fans, our research shows that F1 will add value to the Andretti brand,” the statement said.