Andretti bid for 2025 rejected
Posted: 31 Jan 2024, 19:04
So, it has been confirmed that FOM have rejected the application from the Andretti's to enter F1 in either 2025 or 2026, although they have indicated that they might be open to considering an application for 2028. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68158107
Whilst not unexpected, there is one interesting detail in the statement by FOM. According to them, they wrote to the Andretti's on the 10th October with details of the assessment process and with a list of questions they asked them to address, with the Andretti's replying on the 24th October.
Now, according to FOM, they wrote back to the Andretti's again on the 12th December to ask them if the Andretti's would attend an in-person meeting at FOM's offices to discuss the application face to face. However, according to FOM, the Andretti's declined to take up that offer - which does seem a touch surprising if the Andretti's were that keen to enter the sport.
It is also curious to contemplate whether there may be some wider politics at play here - Sulayem said in late 2023 that “My dream is a full United States of America team from an OEM and I would like to also see an OEM from China”, raising the question of whether there was an element of the Andretti's being chosen for ideological reasons by Sulayem, rather than because they were necessarily the best bid.
To that end, Joe Saward did mention in late 2023 that Hitech was launching legal action against the FIA, with Hitech seemingly claiming that the FIA acted illegally in the bidding process (i.e. that the bidding process was rigged to ensure that the Andretti's would be the only winner). There was a rumour that FOM was therefore unwilling to agree to a deal with the Andretti's whilst Hitech was challenging the legality of the bidding process.
Whilst not unexpected, there is one interesting detail in the statement by FOM. According to them, they wrote to the Andretti's on the 10th October with details of the assessment process and with a list of questions they asked them to address, with the Andretti's replying on the 24th October.
Now, according to FOM, they wrote back to the Andretti's again on the 12th December to ask them if the Andretti's would attend an in-person meeting at FOM's offices to discuss the application face to face. However, according to FOM, the Andretti's declined to take up that offer - which does seem a touch surprising if the Andretti's were that keen to enter the sport.
It is also curious to contemplate whether there may be some wider politics at play here - Sulayem said in late 2023 that “My dream is a full United States of America team from an OEM and I would like to also see an OEM from China”, raising the question of whether there was an element of the Andretti's being chosen for ideological reasons by Sulayem, rather than because they were necessarily the best bid.
To that end, Joe Saward did mention in late 2023 that Hitech was launching legal action against the FIA, with Hitech seemingly claiming that the FIA acted illegally in the bidding process (i.e. that the bidding process was rigged to ensure that the Andretti's would be the only winner). There was a rumour that FOM was therefore unwilling to agree to a deal with the Andretti's whilst Hitech was challenging the legality of the bidding process.