Formula 1 rejects Andretti… at least for the moment. The hopes of seeing the Andretti team enter the world championship Circus collapsed this afternoon as F1 rejected the request made by the American team for 2025.
In the lengthy statement released by Formula 1, the reasons for the Formula One Management not believing that Andretti should have a place on the grid in the coming years are explained. However, it is also true that in the same document, it is specified that Andretti will have the opportunity to secure the 11th spot starting from 2028.
Last October, the FIA had announced that it was convinced of Andretti’s technical capabilities. These were deemed strong enough to allow the American team to enter. To do so, however, Andretti followed the procedure outlined in the existing Concord Agreement: that is, to reach a commercial agreement with the F1 owners, Liberty Media, before being authorized to compete.
It was certain at the time that reaching such an agreement would not be easy because F1 had already stated that it did not want to expand the starting grid unless it could be demonstrated that a new entry could bring clear benefits.
Behind Andretti, as has been clear for some time, is the General Motors Group. However, Andretti would have wanted to enter F1 as early as 2025, purchasing engines from one of the manufacturers already in the world championship Circus (we are talking about Renault). This recent rejection, received with these timing, suggests that there is a push towards General Motors to enter as a Constructor or as a power unit supplier for a private team, in this case, Andretti.
This is why the door has been closed for 2025, making it impossible for Andretti to enter F1 with Renault engines. Still, it has been left open for GM to have the opportunity to enter Formula 1. Whether as a brand or as an engine supplier remains to be seen.
Leave a Reply