Formula 1
By Mark Glendenning January 31, 2024 4:14 PM
By Mark Glendenning | January 31, 2024 4:14 PM ET
Andretti Cadillac has responded to Formula 1’s decision to turn down its bid to join the grid as an 11th team within the next three years, saying that it rejects the assessment from Formula One Management (FOM) that a new team would not be viable within that timeframe.
Andretti Formula Racing LLC had received approval as a potential entrant from the FIA late last year, which left the team waiting on FOM to give the final green light. FOM had been against expanding beyond the current 10 teams on commercial grounds, but when it issued its formal rejection of Andretti’s bid on Wednesday, it said that the decision was borne from concerns that the team could not be competitive enough to bring value to the championship by 2025, and did not have a firm engine deal in place for 2026 or ’27. Andretti had planned to use source engines from elsewhere until GM entered as a factory partner with its Cadillac brand for 2028.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, FOM’s arguments were dismissed by the team.
“Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents,” the statement read.
Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organizations 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.
FOM has left the door open for Andretti to try again in the future, saying it would “look differently” at an application from the team for entry in 2028 with GM power.
