Formula 1 announced this Wednesday that it has rejected the American team Andretti’s request to enter the championship, since, based on its analysis, it considers that it “would not add value” to the competition and they do not believe it would be “competitive.”
This decision contrasts with the prior approval that the project did have by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), but which has not been corroborated by whoever has the commercial rights to the competition, the Formula One Management (FOM).
“Our evaluation process has established that the presence of an eleventh team, by itself, would not add value to the Championship. The most important way a new entrant would add value is by being competitive. And we do not believe that the applicant will be a competitive participant,” says the F1 statement.
Likewise, F1 justifies its decision by arguing that the entry of the American team would not bring them any benefit, “Our research indicates that F1 would add value to the Andretti brand and not the other way around.”
Furthermore, the statement points out that its entry in 2025 and 2026 is not feasible, since between these seasons there will be a change in regulation and they do not trust that it can develop two competitive cars without previous experience in F1. Of course, they leave a door open in 2028.
“We would consider differently the application of a team to enter the championship in 2028 with a General Motors power unit, either as a General Motors work team or as a client team of General Motors, that designs all permitted components internally. In this case, there would be additional factors to consider regarding the value the applicant would bring to the championship. In particular, with regard to the entry of a new and prestigious OEM into the sport as a supplier of power units,” he notes.
