Exclusive: Steiner tells Andretti where it went wrong with F1 entry bid

Guenther Steiner believes Andretti made a mistake in how it tried to secure backing for its F1 entry bid after rejection. 

Michael Andretti has been keen to secure a berth as the 11th team on the F1 grid, initially passing FIA checks during the application process in 2023, before moving onto commercial talks with Formula One Management (FOM).

However, FOM rejected Andretti's bid, which would have brought General Motors in as a power unit partner, believing it would not add enough commercial value with the prize money pot potentially being divided 11 ways instead of 10 - something some smaller teams flatly rejected.

Before he launched the entry bid, Andretti infamously tried to get the signatures of the 10 team bosses at the 2022 Miami Grand Prix, but only succeeded in getting McLaren's Zak Brown and then-Alpine chief Laurent Rossi.

In contrast, Steiner ensured he had already convinced teams of the merit of Haas privately before going public, something he felt Andretti got wrong.

"I think three or four people applied [in the FIA's Expression of Interest process] and they actually asked me, 'Guenther, how was the process last time?'," Steiner exclusively told RacingNews365. 

"This time the process was tightened up because the stakes were much higher with every team worth a billion dollars, but you need to be careful with what you do.

"There are a lot of problems now in having the FIA [on board], but not FOM, but I worked them both together. I got agreements from both of them together. 

"I would have done it differently because the teams haven't got a vote, so it is pointless to have a signature from a team - a team can sign for as long as it wants, but if you haven't got FOM, it isn't going to happen. 

"FOM has the right to give you a licence or not, so I went about it differently. I went around and spoke with the players, convinced them before going public, that was the best thing to do. 

"First you make the deal, and then you go public. You don't go public and try and make the deal. There's a way to do things, but I'll leave everybody to do how they want."

Still a chance for Andretti

The door was not completely closed to Andretti by FOM in its rejection as it was told if GM could provide a power unit for 2028, then the bid would be re-examined.

Steiner believes, therefore, there is still a chance Andretti could line up on the grid.

"I think there is a chance," he added. "FOM left the door open in saying, 'Show us what you can do with the engine'.

"I have no idea if GM has shown something to FOM or not, but that is what you have to do. 

"Red Bull is making its powertrain. They showed what they are going to do, and it was pretty straightforward afterwards. 

"Audi put up a new building in Germany to say, 'This is the investment we are going to make', but I haven't heard anything about GM. I don't know everything."