Andretti-Cadillac has responded to today's decision by Formula One Management to reject its bid to enter the sport any time before 2028.

Explaining the decision, F1 said that the proposed team "would not add value to the championship".

Before issuing a full statement detailing the reasoning behind its decision, F1 added that it "took account of the broad range of ways in which value could be provided, including value to fans, the prestige and reputational value of the sport, the competitive balance of the championship and the sustainability goals of the sport".

In terms of value to the fans, the reaction on social media was swift and overwhelming, with fans claiming that Liberty Media, effectively the owner of the sport, was putting money ahead of all else and risks destroying the sport.

In terms off not adding value, Haas was singled out for criticism, though Stake, Williams and the fact that Red Bull owns two teams was also pointed out.

World Champion and all round motorsport legend, Mario Andretti was quick to react, taking to X he wrote: "I'm devastated. I won't say anything else because I can't find any other words besides devastated."

Andretti-Cadillac subsequently issued a brief statement.

"Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents," it read.

"Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organisations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1, competing alongside the world's best," it continued.

"We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace.

"Andretti Cadillac would also like to acknowledge and thank the fans who have expressed their support."

Like the majority of the fans who have taken to social media today, Pitpass fully concurs.

While one can understand why the majority of the teams wanted today's decision, after all these days they are in for F1 for the money, while passion and history are merely buzz words, the folk at Liberty and F1 Towers clearly have their own agenda.

The biggest mystery however is why, at a time the sport is seeking to expand in the United States, it has rejected one of motorsport's most iconic names, an entrant that has proved, time and again, in various disciplines, to be competitive and add value.

This has been a dark day for our/their sport.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 03/02/2024 1:35

"The more I read and the more being revealed it appears as though Andretti has garnered a massive amount of support...and rightly so. I have gone along with a lot of Liberty's ideas in the belief that F1 is F1 and it would take a lot of dissension for me to change my ideas however I am being sorely tested over this latest imbroglio. So many viewpoints have been raised that support the eleventh team admission that it is, or should be, incumbent on Liberty to reevaluate the impasse in favour of Andretti. To suggest that the teams did not apply any influence/pressure is a joke and just shows what an arrogant group Liberty really are. To suggest that Andretti are 'novices' is both rude/uneducated and lacking in credibility. I certainly hope that the FIA takes a firm stance on this by challenging the decision of Liberty to reject the Andretti app. That is if they can!!!!"

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2. Posted by estoril85, 02/02/2024 19:36

"I can see the FIA taking a pretty dim view of this, Mohammad Ben Sulayem has already locked horns with Liberty a couple of times and there could well be a repeat of the FISA/FOCA wars of the 70's here.
I would not be surprised to see Andretti's entry accepted by the FIA for next seasons championship with all the teams not wanting them having their entries rejected until the rights holder accepts the sporting regulations of the FIA.
As always Ferrari will hold the key and a concession where for example Andretti agree to vote with Ferrari etc could resolve matters.
It could get ugly...."

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3. Posted by mds167, 01/02/2024 17:19

"The push back to after the next Concorde agreement just looks like profiteering.
If they thought the change from '25 to '26 would be too much for a new team, why not just suggest they join in '26?
Andretti would be paying the price for admission under the current rules so Liberty get their 'value'.
They get GM joining with the new engine regs, even though Liberty seem to suggest their is no guarantee of that in their press release.
Renault had previously agreed (in principle?) to supply an engine, has that changed?.
As for being competitive, someone has to come last in a race. What does it matter to Liberty who it is? They've got their money.
Silly me - they'd have money, just not enough

I do wonder what RedFord really think about GM joining the party."

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4. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 01/02/2024 15:36

"Awful decision. Bernie would've green lighted it."

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5. Posted by Spindoctor, 01/02/2024 13:54

"Further thought:
This sort of plays into the rumours that Andretti might buy Haas - if that rumour were true and\or that's the only entree to F1 foi Andretti, it wouldn't don the price of Haas any harm..."

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6. Posted by Spindoctor, 01/02/2024 13:02

"The Twittersphere is definitely with Andretti, as am I.
Once I'd have put this kind of stupidity down to the snobbery of the "Old Boy's Club" which used to dominate motorsport, but they're long gone replaced by Liberty's media-focused money men & the Teams' selfish influence.
Partially I think a good number of the teams are "frit". Although you'd be nuts to expect them to start winning from day 1 I think it's highly likely Andretti would outperform Haas and might even compete strongly in the midfield."

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7. Posted by Burton, 01/02/2024 10:39

"That was a very interesting Twitter feed yesterday, of people being against the move, all the way from guys like Maurice Hamilton and Bob Varsha to the 30 and under-30s army of influencers and "content creators" FOM go out of their way to suck up to!"

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8. Posted by Stitch431, 01/02/2024 8:53

"In my opinion, both the teams and F1 management do not understand what they are doing here. The discussion surrounding the potential inclusion of new teams into Formula 1, particularly an American team like Andretti, underscores a pivotal moment for the sport. Formula 1's strategic endeavors to deepen its roots in the American market, exemplified by initiatives like the race in Las Vegas, signal a clear intent to tap into the vast potential of the U.S. audience. However, the hesitancy to welcome new entrants like Andretti reveals a tension between expanding the sport's global appeal and protecting the commercial interests of the existing teams.

The apprehension among current teams appears to stem from concerns over revenue distribution. There's a prevailing fear that introducing a new competitor could dilute their share of the sport's financial pie. This perspective, however, overlooks the broader economic dynamics at play. Welcoming an American team into Formula 1 could serve as a catalyst for growth, not just for the sport as a whole but for its existing stakeholders as well.

Integrating Andretti into Formula 1 could unlock several benefits, crucially including the expansion of the sport's fan base, the attraction of new sponsors, and the enhancement of TV coverage and media interest in the U.S. market. This influx of new engagement and investment has the potential to significantly increase Formula 1's overall revenue. The natural consequence of this growth would be a larger financial pie to be shared among all teams, potentially mitigating the concerns over reduced individual shares.

Moreover, the inclusion of a new American team would send a powerful message about Formula 1's commitment to embracing and valuing diverse racing cultures. It would demonstrate a genuine effort to integrate the American racing heritage into the global fabric of F1, thereby strengthening the sport's appeal to American audiences and beyond.

The perceived short-term financial uncertainties of welcoming Andretti should be weighed against the long-term benefits of expanded global reach, increased sponsor interest, and a broader fan base. These elements are crucial for the sustained growth and health of Formula 1. They ensure that the sport continues to evolve and thrive, not just within its traditional strongholds but in new markets as well.

In essence, the inclusion of an American team like Andretti represents an opportunity for Formula 1 to grow its income streams and solidify its position as a truly global sport. Rather than viewing new entrants as a threat to their financial security, existing teams might consider the broader perspective—that by supporting the expansion of Formula 1, they are, in fact, investing in the future prosperity of the sport and, by extension, their own long-term success."

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9. Posted by kenji, 01/02/2024 1:29

"The FIA should be the final arbiter here, IMO. I'm pretty sure that Andretti will have contingency plans and hopefully we'll see a concerted attack via all means to have this decision overturned. On a purely amateur basis vis a vis the alternatives of a legal challenge, I find that the basis for rejection appears to be contestable. I would think that this will not sit well with fans in the USA and hopefully the US fans will be vocal to the extent of forcing a re think. I fully concur with Mario's sentiments. Judging by comments already in the professional social media outlets there appears to be an overwhelming support for Andretti and that should be noted for future reference.

On a different tack, it was mentioned at various times some time ago that the FIA could grant an eleventh team a competitive slot albeit outside the ambit of the World titles! That I would like to see as Andretti at least get their opportunity to shake up the current group of wannabes and if they were good enough then they could force an entry based purely on competition, like it should already be. Maybe I'm totally wrong here but I'm sure that someone will correct me....if that's the case."

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Andretti "strongly disagrees" with F1's decision

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