Congress was informed by Mario Andretti about his involvement in the discussion surrounding the Andretti Global F1 endeavor.
Mario Andretti has explained how the matter of Andretti’s F1 bid being rejected ended up before members of Congress in the United States.
After successfully passing the rigorous FIA stress tests, Andretti’s F1 team had been granted permission to proceed through the entry process. However, Liberty Media ultimately rejected their growing team.
Andretti entry bid investigated by Congress
Despite F1 rejecting the Andretti bid, they have not let the rejection discourage them. Instead, Andretti has chosen to persistently prepare for entry into the sport, operating as if they have already received approval. Although the door remains open for a potential entry in 2028, Andretti’s determination remains unwavering.
The plan involves inaugurating a fresh Silverstone manufacturing facility and initiating the recruitment process for 60 positions at this site.
However, as the Andretti/General Motors bid to join as the 11th F1 team remains unresolved, the chairman of the United States House Judiciary Committee has set a deadline of May 21st for obtaining answers.
During the lead-up to the Miami Grand Prix, Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 World Champion, shared updates on the situation with Sky F1’s Martin Brundle. Andretti had recently met with members of Congress and conveyed the latest details while speaking to the broadcaster on the grid.
He stated that they were diligently working on it every day.
“We are fully prepared to face any challenge that comes our way. Simply let us know what it is, and we will eagerly take it on.”
“Our goal is to be fully operational on the grid by 2026, and we are taking every possible measure to make that happen.”
Having previously told PlanetF1.com the same intended date in an earlier interview, Andretti said he believes the 2026 campaign is achievable, given the major regulation changes that will be a fresh sheet of paper for all the teams and manufacturers.
“Oh, absolutely. 100 percent,” he said.
“We’re already in the process of working on it, and we’re excited to show you! Join us at Silverstone, and we’ll demonstrate it firsthand!”
Andretti explained how the meeting with Congress came about, saying, “Formula 1 organized an exhibition of Red Bull on Pennsylvania Avenue, and to my surprise, members of Congress were more knowledgeable about our situation than I had anticipated.”
“They requested my presence to clarify the reasons behind our restricted access, and indeed, that was the situation.”
In a recent development, a letter was sent by 12 United States Congress members to Liberty Media, specifically addressed to CEO Greg Maffei. The purpose of the letter was to seek clarification regarding the rejection.
The reasons for the team’s rejection, despite the Concorde Agreement permitting up to 12 teams, include an examination of FOM’s denial in relation to the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which prohibits unfair limitations on market competition. Additionally, the decision takes into account the impact of GM’s and Andretti’s participation in racing competitions, which has resulted in a portion of the racing market share being acquired. Furthermore, GM’s entry into the European market and its consequent capture of market share have also influenced the determination to deny admission to the Andretti Global team, particularly considering the strong opposition from existing Formula 1 teams towards a new American competitor.
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Additionally, the 12 members of Congress alleged that F1’s decision to reject Andretti was influenced by a bias towards the current roster of European Formula 1 race teams. Many of these teams have ties to foreign automobile manufacturers that directly rival American automotive companies such as GM.
The letter further implies that F1’s refusal of Andretti might breach American antitrust laws. It argues that involvement in F1 should be determined by merit and not solely aimed at safeguarding the existing race teams. This point holds particular significance given Formula 1’s expanding influence in the United States, highlighted by the occurrence of three grand prix racing events in Miami, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
During a press conference in Washington, Congressman John James criticized Liberty for engaging in “cartel-like conduct” and accused them of delaying the process to secure a more advantageous deal, thereby jeopardizing the presence of this iconic race at America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. James made these remarks while speaking alongside Andretti.
Furthermore, he proposed that executives from Liberty Media could potentially be called upon by Congress to provide an explanation for their decision to turn down Andretti’s F1 proposal.
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