Brundle: Andretti rejection puts F1 against FIA

Martin Brundle has insisted F1's decision to reject Andretti Cadillac Racing's application to join the grid has put FOM and the FIA at loggerheads.

The American team had been aiming to join F1 from 2025 or 2026 and, having passed through the initial stages of the application process which included a green light from the governing body, was forced to wait for Liberty Media and FOM to complete commercial matters.

But any chance of Andretti joining was dismissed with F1's decision noting a number of shortcomings, including suggesting a lack of value and competitiveness being provided by the entrant - though the door has been left open from 2028.

"This does put the FIA absolutely head-to-head with Formula One Management and Liberty Media because the FIA said yes, Formula 1 have said no to what they often refer to in that document as an 11th team rather than necessarily Andretti," Brundle told Sky Sports F1.

"They're quite rightly saying that for Andretti as a new team, a novice as they call them, to build a brand new car for 2025 and then when the regulations change fundamentally for 2026 to start all over again is too much of a tall order.

"They think they won't be competitive. Andretti will no doubt say well give us a chance we're a mighty organisation with a lot of funding, we'll show you what we can do."

'This is peak F1'

F1's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, especially in the United States, and in tandem with financial regulations being implemented in 2021, a number of teams previously at risk of difficulty have found financial security.

"This is peak F1 we're in here and the teams no doubt will be saying - and others - hang on a minute many of us have poured billions into our team to get Formula 1 where it is now," explained Brundle.

"There's demand all over the world for races. Grandstands are sold out, you can't just come and join our club now when everything's going so well you're going to have to show us what you can bring to the table.

"F1 have clearly said 'you're not bringing enough to make it warrant an extra team on the grid'."