Michael Andretti’s efforts to enter a team in Formula 1 provoked further criticism from current competitors as US politicians began to apply pressure on the series.
This week six senators called on the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to look into F1’s refusal to admit Andretti, whose application to enter as an 11th team was approved by the FIA last October.
Andretti’s father Mario, the 1978 Formula 1 world champion, visited lawmakers in Washington earlier this month to lobby on behalf of the team and intended engine supplier Cadillac. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he was “surprised” at their approach and defended F1’s resistance to expanding the grid.
“We’re US-owned, we have five Fortune 500 companies on our car, and I think that this isn’t about anything to do with Andretti being American or anything like that,” he said. “It’s purely down to the business model that is Formula 1.
“I remember not so long ago that there would always be two teams at the tail end of the grid needing to be bailed out or being technically insolvent. We finally got into a position where there’s great strength and health in Formula 1 and Liberty have to be congratulated for that because they’ve created a model where even the worst team in Formula 1 probably has a billion-dollar valuation.
“Liberty have created that model, I think the approach that they bought by opening the sport as well and bringing a new fandom and new fans into the sports, they have to be commended on.
“I was surprised to see that Andretti have gone down this process but hopefully if they really want to find a way onto the grid they will find it and but I think the most natural solution is for them to acquire an existing franchise should one want to sell.”
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Andretti has twice attempted to purchase teams: Force India, which was bought by Lawrence Stroll’s consortium and is now Aston Martin, and Sauber, which is being taken over by Audi prior to the German manufacturer’s arrival in the series in 2026. Although F1’s rules allow for more than 10 teams, Horner is not alone among the rival bosses who disagree with Andretti’s attempt to enter a new one.
Sauber team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi said he agrees “fully” with Horner. “I think that Audi shows the right path to come to Formula 1.
“Of course Cadillac is…
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