F1 rejects Andretti bid, leaves door open for 2028
Formula One has rejected a bid from Andretti Global to become the eleventh team on the grid, but has left the door open to a future entry in 2028 if the team can secure the entry of General Motors as a manufacturer.
Michael Andretti’s bid to join the Formula 1 grid has been denied. (File/Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
“We do not believe that [Andretti Global] would be a competitive participant,” Formula 1 said in a statement on Wednesday.
The commercial rights-holders cited Andretti’s need to take a compulsory power unit from an existing manufacturer, as well as no “material positive effect on CRH financial results.”
Andretti would gain more exposure from their addition to the grid than any benefit to the sport, said Formula 1.
“I'm devastated,” said Mario Andretti, 1978 F1 world champion.
“I won't say anything else because I can't find any other words besides devastated.”
Andretti Cadillac, the working name of the Formula 1 team in partnership with General Motors, said it “strongly disagrees” with the decision.
“Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organizations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1, 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.”
The FIA had opened an invitation to participate in the Formula One World Championship, of which it is the owner, in March last year after increased interest from Andretti.
Four applicants responded, with the Andretti bid the only one to fulfil the selection criteria set by the governing body of global motorsport.
The application was handed to Formula 1, who spent six months reviewing the application, including a follow-up letter and invitation to an in-person meeting.
F1 says that while Andretti responded to the letter, they did not respond to the request for a meeting.
A main stumbling block was the selection of a power unit supplier, which Andretti sought to overcome by introducing team partner General Motors as a manufacturer within a number of years.
F1 maintained that while this would have enhanced the bid’s credibility, it still presented significant challenges.
“The application contemplates an association with General Motors that does not initially include a PU supply, with an ambition for a full partnership with GM as a PU supplier in due course, but this will not be the case for some years,” wrote F1.
“Having a GM PU supply attached to the Application at the outset would have enhanced its credibility, though a novice constructor in partnership with a new entrant PU supplier would also have a significant challenge to overcome.”
“Most of the attempts to establish a new constructor in the last several decades have not been successful.”
Ultimately, “the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the championship,” according to series promoters, potentially even damaging the “prestige and standing of the championship” should the team not succeed.
F1 did however leave the door open for a future entry should General Motors progress to full manufacturer status.
“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.”
“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.”
