F1 slams the door in the face of Andretti and Cadillac!

This is the news that Michael Andretti and his eponymous team feared so much. There Formula 1 announced this Wednesday, January 31, that it rejected the American's request to enter his team in Formula 1 in the near future, namely during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

In a particularly wordy legal document released this Wednesday, F1 explains this decision which is sure to cause a stir. According to her, Andretti would simply not bring added value to the discipline.

“While the Andretti name is recognized by F1 fans, our research indicates that F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than vice versa,” can we read in the document.

It's true that flagships like Stake, Visa Cash App, or even Haas, who seems satisfied with finishing last every year, bring a lot to the queen discipline.

F1 is leaving the door open for the Andretti-Cadillac tandem to arrive in the paddock by 2028.  “We would view a 2028 championship bid with a General Motors powertrain differently, either as a GM factory team or a GM customer team. »

ALSO READ > General Motors will only enter F1 with Andretti

Andretti is essentially paying the price for a latent conflict between the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the F1/Liberty Media duo. The FIA ​​has always been a supporter of the project led by Mario Andretti's son, and quickly gave its approval. Conversely, F1 has never been excited, because the prospect of an 11th team would have resulted in lower revenues for the teams already present.

Bad faith arguments

« Our evaluation process established that the presence of an 11th team would not, in itself, bring added value to the championship, further affirms the FOM.

Any 11th team must demonstrate that their participation and commitment will provide a championship advantage. The most meaningful way to achieve this would be to be competitive, especially fighting for podiums and victories.

This would significantly increase fan engagement and the value of the sport in the eyes of key stakeholders and revenue sources, such as official broadcasters and promoters. »

What is Haas' record since arriving on the grid in 2016? How many podiums? We'll let you search. It will go quickly.

A little further on, we can read this other common-sense argument.

« The addition of an 11th team would place an operational burden on race promoters, impose significant costs on some of them and reduce the technical and commercial space of other competitors. »

On the other hand, add endless races, string together triple meetings in the four corners of the world? No problem, of course!

In its greatness of soul, F1 therefore leaves the door open for Andretti to arrive with a GM engine by 2028. Here again, the justification is somewhat laughable.

« The need for any new team to take on a customer power unit, potentially for several seasons, would be detrimental to the prestige and reputation of the championship. »

McLaren et Williams with their engines Mercedes harm the reputation of F1? What about Haas and Stake with their Power Units Ferrari ? Alpine Wouldn't she need a stable of clients, she who has been sticking her tongue out in this area for some time?

The litany of arguments put forward by Formula 1 exudes bad faith and struggles to mask the main reason for this refusal: the frantic quest for profit and maximum return. By the FOM, but also by the 10 teams already present on the grid, keen to preserve their small interests.

Sad.

with MC-V.