F1 reveals outcome to Andretti's entry bid application

Andretti's immediate hopes of joining the Formula 1 grid are over after its entry bid was rejected following commercial discussions.

In October, the FIA announced that Andretti was the only one of the prospective candidate teams to pass the application process, and so forwarded the bid onto the next stage, which was commercial talks with F1 itself.

Andretti's attempts to join the F1 grid have been met with a lukewarm reception by some F1 teams, who were unhappy at the prospect of dividing the revenue 11 ways instead of 10, despite Andretti claiming it could help grow the overall size of the pot.

Andretti's bid is being backed by General Motors and its Cadillac brand, who has agreed to create a power unit for the all-new 2026 rules, but not before 2028.

Despite the perceived strength of the Andretti bid - spearheaded by Michael Andretti, F1 has elected to turn down the application.

However, in a lengthy statement, F1 has detailed why the bid did not meet the criteria needed for an entry slot - but did leave the door open for a potential 2028 entry.

Andretti rejected

In its statement, F1 found adding an 11th team in Andretti would "not in, and of itself, provide value to the championship" and that Andretti would not be a "competitive participant."

Concerns were also raised about the possibility of building a car to one set of regulations for 2025, only to do so again for the 2026 overhaul.

In a further dismissal of Andretti's proposals, F1 suggested that the need to take a power unit supply for its first seasons would be "damaging to the prestige and standing of the championship" and that the addition of an 11th team would place an "operational burden" on race promoters.

However, in a sign of a potential deal in future, F1 concluded that "we would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 championship with a GM power unit" which would "bring a prestigious new OEM to the sport."

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