Formula 1 says no to Andretti in 2025 after FIA says yes

lFormula 1 has for now said no to the entry of an eleventh team into Formula 1 in 2025, especially the only one that has passed the initial stage required by the FIA ​​to enter the championship.

In October, Ben Sulayem’s highest body was already openly opposed to Formula 1., gave the go-ahead for the iconic American name to be entered, but skipped the second step, which stipulates that both the FIA ​​and the Commercial Rights Holder (FRM) must review the relevant application to select a new entrant. But one of them is not.

There are several reasons, including the impact that the arrival of a new team that will cut into their share of the pie will have on current teams, but there are many types, and some of them are not exempt from harshness: “Now Formula 1 will contribute to Andretti more than Andretti to Formula 1.” – the championship assures in its statement.

Despite announcing an agreement with General Motors through Cadillac, Andretti did not bid to have its own engine (“which would have added credibility to the project,” they add), which would have stressed other engine makers for at least a year and then in 2026 . more, besides having to build two different cars (the rules are changing this year), so “Andretti faces challenges he is unaware of and has never faced before,” the assessment adds.

More specific reasons: “Our assessment process has shown that the presence of an 11th team will not in itself add value to the championship. The most important way a new entrant can add value to a championship is to be competitive. We do not believe that the Applicant is a competitive participant.“, the championship assures in its conclusions.

“The eleventh team will place the operational burden on the race promoters. some of them will entail significant costs and will reduce the technical, operational and commercial space of other competitors,” he adds.

The door is open to 2028

At least Formula 1 is leaving the door open for Andretti in the future. “We would view a bid for a team in the 2028 championship with a GM (General Motors) powertrain in a different way: either as a GM work team or as a GM customer team that designs all components are allowed internally. In this case, additional factors will need to be taken into account in relation to the value that the Applicant will bring to the Championship, in particular in relation to creating a new reputation in the sport as a powertrain supplier.”