Formula 1 has rejected Andretti Global’s bid for a team to enter the Championship in 2025, with the series to remain a ten-team competition for the foreseeable future.
The FIA approved Andretti’s application to join the grid with Cadillac from 2025, leaving the ball firmly in the court of Formula 1 as to whether their addition was viable.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, the series made note of several evaluations that ultimately determined the viability of Andretti’s application and their reasons for turning it down.
They included:
- “Our assessment process has established that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the Championship. The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the Applicant would be a competitive participant.”
- “The need for any new team to take a compulsory power unit supply, potentially over a period of several seasons, would be damaging to the prestige and standing of the Championship.”
- “While the Andretti name carries some recognition for F1 fans, our research indicates that F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around.”
- “The addition of an 11th team would place an operational burden on race promoters, would subject some of them to significant costs, and would reduce the technical, operational and commercial spaces of the other competitors.”
- “We were not able to identify any material expected positive effect on CRH financial results as a key indicator of the pure commercial value of the Championship.”
- “On the basis of the application, as it stands, we do not believe that the Applicant has shown that it would add value to the Championship. We conclude that the Applicant’s application to participate in the Championship should not be successful.”
The release then went on to state an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 Championship when the GM power unit is ready would be considered.
It also stated there was no consultation with current teams in the Championship, “However, in considering the best interests of the Championship, we took account of the impact of the entry of an 11th team on all commercial stakeholders in the Championship.”
Mario Andretti took to Twitter shortly after, stating, “I’m devastated. I won’t say anything else because I can’t find any other words besides devastated.”
The team issued a statement shortly after: “Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagrees with its contents.
“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.
“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.”
