Andretti Global is not taking F1's rejection quietly and has confirmed that it will take the next step towards entering F1.
Despite the Andretti Global Team being very strongly rejected by F1 three months ago, the American-led team has opened a team facility in Silverstone.
Andretti's new UK home unveiled
Michael Andretti's team had applied to enter F1 in the coming years and had the backing of the FI and its president Mohamed Ben Sulayem, but commercial rights holders Liberty Media rejected their application. issued a detailed statement, and ran into a very solid roadblock. Entries they suggested.
But despite this hurdle, Andretti continues to prepare for F1, revealing on Wednesday that he has set up a new facility.
The lease for new unit 1134 at Towcester's Silverstone Park is just a stone's throw from the circuit and the Aston Martin F1 facility, opposite the circuit's main gate.
Michael Andretti helped open the facility along with his famous father, 1978 F1 World Champion Mario. The facility will house Andretti Cadillac's existing UK workforce of just over 80 people.
Andretti hailed the 48,000-square-foot building as a “milestone” and said the separate premises will allow the team to expand its operations “as the situation evolves.”
There is plenty of room for electronics development and R&D as manufacturing processes such as models and machine shops can be facilitated, with this new facility paralleling the Andretti Global facility in Indiana and the Formula E facility in Indiana. The aim is to make it operational. Bunbury.
According to Andretti's press statement, preparations for the F1 project will “focus on critical activities, including convening key staff and focusing on long lead-time activities such as aerodynamic design, mechanical design and vehicle dynamics.” It started a while ago.”
“The new facility will be completed in stages according to commercial and sporting needs and workforce requirements.
“We have said that work continues well, and this new facility embodies that work. We are building our American works team, but having a presence in Europe is , is a great way to bring together F1's best talent and introduce cutting-edge cars.”
As Andretti is not currently participating in the F1 Championship, all of F1's regulations, including financial regulations governing budget caps and capital expenditures, do not apply to them. This means that fast-growing teams have ample opportunity to set up a complete infrastructure if they are confident of securing an eventual F1 entry, and if they have the financial resources.
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F1 released a 1434-word statement to the media to clarify the reasons behind Andretti Global's rejection, but the main crux of the argument is that the 11th team does not necessarily bring value to the championship. It was said that there was no such thing.
The justification for this is that the No. 11 team needs to demonstrate that its involvement is of material benefit to the Championship or CRH (commercial rights holder).
“The most important way new entrants can deliver value is by being competitive, especially by competing for podiums and race wins,” the statement said.
“This will significantly increase fan participation and also increase the value of the Championship in the eyes of key stakeholders and revenue sources such as broadcasters and race promoters.”
Andretti's partnership with Cadillac via General Motors was a major coup for his entry into F1, but F1 didn't budge either.
GM will partner with Andretti, but the manufacturer will not initially be a power supplier but a “silent partner” for the first few years. F1 said it would be “more reliable” if GM supplied power units from the start, but “there would also be significant challenges to overcome” for novice constructors and novice power unit suppliers.
F1 will also see Andretti build his car for the final year of the current regulations, as the chassis and power unit regulations will also undergo revolutionary changes from 2025 to 2026, requiring very different designs on both fronts. He scoffed at the proposal to design and manufacture. Quickly design your car to new regulations and produce it almost instantly.
F1 also said that without a GM power unit from the start, existing power unit manufacturers (one of which will be forced to supply engines under the sport's regulations) would “inevitably be reluctant to extend it.” It will be,” he explained.collaboration with [Andretti] While exceeding the necessary minimum, [Andretti] The company is pursuing its long-term ambitions to cooperate with GM as a PU supplier, but a mandatory PU supplier would see it as a risk to its intellectual property and know-how. ”
As a result, F1 said there was no basis to allow a new applicant in 2025 and questioned Andretti's own attitude towards the regulations, saying: [Andretti] Proposing to do so gives us reason to question their understanding of the scope of the challenges involved. ”
F1 also said that despite Andretti's success in other motorsport categories, the sport “represents a unique technical challenge for constructors.” [Andretti] has not competed in any other formula or discipline he has competed in before and proposes to rely on a compulsory PU supply to compete during the first few years of participation.
“Based on this, we do not believe that:” [Andretti] Will be a competitive participant. ”
F1 also explained that in terms of power units, the challenges facing new power unit manufacturers cannot be underestimated. F1 cited that “major automakers have struggled in the past” and acknowledged that while GM has the resources and credibility to do so, “success is not guaranteed.”
F1 would 'bring more value to Andretti' than vice versa
F1 considered Andretti's application from a commercial perspective and said the team could bring value to the championship if it was competitive. However, F1 was frank and stated: [Andretti] Will be a competitive participant. ”
The regulations include a clause that would force existing power unit manufacturers to supply customers who cannot find a willing partner, but F1 has avoided implementing it, saying it would “damage the prestige and status” of the sport.
The statement was harshly critical of Andretti, saying: “While the Andretti name brings some recognition to F1 fans, our research shows that F1 brings value to the Andretti brand, not the other way around. ” also stated.
F1 also stated that it does not foresee a material positive impact on CRH's financial results, with a simultaneous reduction in technical, operational and commercial opportunities for the other 10 teams, as well as additional operational burdens on race promoters. He also said that he had decided to impose a .
“We do not believe that the applicant has shown that it adds value to the championship,” the statement concludes.
“We conclude that the applicant's application to participate in the Championship should not be successful.”
But the door may not be completely closed for Andretti. Andretti revealed this week that he is preparing full speed ahead for a potential F1 race over the next year or two.
F1 could take a different look at the possibility of entering the 2028 championship with GM backing, either as a factory entry or as a customer team, especially in terms of bringing new OEMs into the sport. Stated.
Finally, while many current F1 teams have made clear their lack of enthusiasm for Andretti's entry, F1 has stated that its evaluation of Andretti's application “did not include any consultation with current F1 teams”. Ta.
“However, having regard to the best interests of the Championship, we have considered the impact that the entry of an 11th team will have on all commercial stakeholders in the Championship.”
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