Investigation into Liberty Media: U.S. Antitrust Opens Inquiry Over Andretti’s Exclusion. Justice Department opens investigation into Liberty Media amid F1 Andretti clash.

Blow to Liberty Media
Last May, several U.S. representatives and senators sided with Mario Andretti after Formula 1 rejected the Andretti team’s entry. The possibility of opening an investigation was suggested, and it has now been formally initiated.

Liberty Media has been notified that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an antitrust investigation into the handling of Andretti’s request to join the F1 championship. The Formula 1 owners have assured their full cooperation and transparency.

Greg Maffei’s Comments
Greg Maffei, president and CEO of Liberty Media, explained: “A Department of Justice investigation is underway, and we intend to cooperate fully, providing all requested information. We believe that our decision—and that of F1—was in compliance with all U.S. antitrust laws, and we have already detailed the reasons for rejecting the application.” – And we’ve detailed the rationale for this decision vis-a-vis Andretti in prior statements. We are certainly not against the idea that any expansion is wrong. There is a methodology for expansion that requires approval of the FIA and the F1 and both groups have to meet find the criteria met. And we’re certainly open to new entrants making applications and potentially being approved if those requirements are met.”

Background: Late last year, the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, gave the green light to Andretti’s application to join the sport, stating that it met the rigorous standards required for a new team. However, in January, Liberty Media, which owns the commercial rights to F1, blocked the entry, expressing doubts about the team’s competitiveness and its potential to enhance the F1 championship’s value in 2025 or 2026.

Andretti Global has chosen not to comment on the matter.

The effort to enter F1 is led by Michael Andretti, with his father, Mario Andretti, a legendary figure in racing, vocally opposing Liberty Media’s decision. Mario has even suggested that the rejection was driven by personal motives, a claim Liberty Media strongly denies.

Formula 1’s expanding popularity, combined with the prospect of an American automaker competing in the sport, has recently drawn the attention of U.S. lawmakers. In May, six senators urged the Justice Department to investigate, expressing concerns that the rejection of Team Andretti-Cadillac might have been motivated by a desire to keep a potential competitor out of F1’s lucrative environment, which offers global marketing opportunities and prestige.