One year ago last Friday, the FIA formally invited applications from teams hoping to enter the Formula 1 world championship in 2025 or 2026.
“For the avoidance of doubt,” the FIA’s announcement read, “no new applicant has an automatic right of entry to the championship and the maximum number of teams competing in the championship up to and including the 2025 season is capped at 12. Existing F1 teams will be given priority over new applicants.
“In the event that no applicant is considered suitable by the FIA and/or by the F1 commercial rights holder, no new F1 team(s) will be selected.”
Two key details stand out here. First, the FIA made it clear the final decision on who would get to join in would be made by two parties – itself and F1’s commercial rights holder, Formula One Management, run by Liberty Media.
Second, the maximum number of teams – 12 – is capped up until the end of 2025. This is the expiry date for the current Concorde Agreement, the three-way deal between FOM, the FIA and 10 current teams.
Of the four applications given serious scrutiny by the FIA, only one was approved. In October last year FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem declared: “Andretti Formula Racing LLC was the only entity which fulfils the selection criteria that was set in all material respects.”
But having received approval from the sport’s governing body, Andretti now needed the nod from the commercial rights holder.
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“As part of the agreed process of the expressions of interest protocol, the FIA findings on Andretti Formula Racing LLC’s submission will now be passed to Formula One Management (FOM) for commercial discussions,” the FIA statement concluded.
Shortly before the one-year anniversary of the FIA opening applications, Andretti’s hopes appeared to be dashed. FOM issued a 1,400-word summary of its “commercial assessment process” which would not have made for pleasant reading at the Andretti base in Indianapolis.
After asserting Andretti would not be a competitive entrant, that they were not sufficiently well known among fans and would not improve the commercial rights holders’ financial results, FOM concluded: “The applicant’s application to participate in the championship should not be successful.”
Significantly, nowhere in the statement did FOM state definitively that Andretti’s application had been rejected. Its…
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