With FIA and FOM at odds over the issue that has been the talk of the paddock for days, namely the potential entry of Andretti into Formula 1 in 2026, there is a risk of witnessing a political war between the two entities. The federation has, in fact, reacted to the Americans’ advancement to the next stage of the candidacy process in a completely different way from Liberty Media, who responded with some indifference once they heard the news.
Andretti Divides FIA and FOM: Will There Be a Political War Between the Two Entities?
“I believe that Formula 1 as a whole is considering the matter, saying, ‘We must protect the interests of the 10 people who have invested in this sport and have grown it to its current level,'” says Karun Chandok, former F1 driver and current commentator for Sky Sports.
“Although we haven’t received definitive answers from F1 yet, I believe they are considering Andretti in their decision-making process. But at the moment, the indications are that Formula 1, the teams, and the Formula 1 organization do not believe they need an eleventh team.”
The reason for this opposition is quite clear: none of the current 10 teams intends to share the prize money with another competitor. Moreover, as stated by Helmut Marko, the entry of a possible eleventh team would devalue the individual teams. All of these issues would, of course, be a significant headache in the era of budget caps.
“I believe Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has openly stated that he does not believe more teams are necessary on the grid,” adds the Indian commentator.
“So there will be a bit of an impasse because the FIA, as the governing body, has approved it and declared them eligible to compete. Formula 1, as the holder of commercial rights, sees it differently. I imagine the situation will turn into a kind of political storm. I think of the ten teams on the grid, only a couple are neutral. Almost all the others are opposed to having another team and see F1 as a franchise model. They only see ten teams here. Each of them sees their own as a business of certain value, and as soon as another one is added, the value decreases. I believe their view is fundamentally economic and looks out for their interests.” – he concluded.
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The final decision now rests with Liberty Media, tasked with reaching a commercial agreement with Andretti regarding television rights. However, in the event of official approval, the opposition of the teams could turn into more than mere discontent.
Source: f1ingenerale
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