Michael Andretti says he has made repeated efforts to buy the Haas F1 team in recent times, but that owner Gene Haas simply "wouldn't sell". Andretti is working hard to arrive on the F1 grid in some shape or form, with his father, Mario, revealing last month that 'Andretti Global' have applied to the FIA for a fully-fledged entry from the 2024 season . It comes after an attempted takeover of the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo team fell through last year, with Andretti describing the breakdown of the deal as a "joke". "We were there; it was done. We had a day set up to sign it and, literally two days before, they changed the terms," Andretti told Motorsport.com . "They basically still wanted to keep control. I was like, 'No, they can't keep control'. They wanted veto rights on everything all of a sudden – it was horrible. "We wasted so much time. If we didn't do that, we'd have been so much further ahead on everything else." Alongside Alfa Romeo, Andretti spoke of his attempts to convince Gene Haas to sell his eponymous outfit, without any luck. He added: "Gene Haas wouldn't sell. I've asked five or six times."
Andretti "surprised" by F1 paddock response to proposed entry
News of Andretti's full-scale F1 entry bid was met with a mixed response from existing team bosses at last week's pre-season test in Barcelona. Although McLaren and Alpine chiefs spoke in favour of Andretti's arrival, others were less enthusiastic, including Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. "The American market is important, but every team that is joining needs to add value and demonstrate what it can do for the other teams, for Formula 1 and the FIA," said Wolff. "We are the absolute pinnacle. This is [like] the Champions League or the NFL, and redistributing franchises isn't the goal, that's not how it should be. "[In addition to] the $200 million [anti-dilution fee], you probably need more than $1 billion if you want to play in this club straight from the get-go." Andretti admits he was surprised by some of the comments made, and emphasised just how much he feels his entry would bring to the sport. "I thought that it would be a no-brainer to get done and just go, but obviously nothing's that way in Formula 1," he said. "We've lodged an entry and just need approval. Hopefully, people understand we're not diluting. That's what Toto says, [that] we're diluting. No, we're not. "First of all, we're bringing $200m, and second we feel we're going to add more than $100m to the bottom line just here in the US, with everything that's going on in having an American team and an American driver."
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