The FIA intends to continue discussions with Formula One Management after the latter rejected Andretti’s bid to enter the series yesterday.
The announcement by FOM came a year after the FIA first invited applications from potential new entrants to the series. In October, the FIA confirmed Andretti was the only team it had selected to enter the series as its 11th team.
However Andretti also required the approval of F1’s commercial rights holder, who spent another four months considering their application. Yesterday FOM announced it had rejected their bid.
The FIA issued a short response today acknowledging FOM’s decision. “The FIA notes the announcement from Formula One Management in relation to the FIA Formula One world championship teams’ expressions of interest process,” it said. “We are engaging in dialogue to determine next steps.”
Andretti Global already competes in Formula E, where it took Jake Dennis to last year’s championship, as well as IndyCar, Extreme E and other series. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said last year Michael Andretti’s team has produced a “thorough submission” in support of their bid to enter F1.
However FOM has long resisted moves to expand the grid beyond its current 10 teams. In its statement yesterday FOM claimed adding an extra team “would not, in and of itself, provide value to the championship.”
It also cast doubt on Andretti’s ability to field a competitive F1 team and claimed its brand did not have sufficient recognition among F1 fans. However they indicated they might be open to allowing the team to enter in 2028, at which point their engine partner Cadillac has said they plan to produce their own power unit.
Andretti and Cadillac said yesterday they “strongly disagree” with the points made by FOM in rejecting their application.
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