Mario Andretti issues response to F1 team rejection

Mario Andretti has expressed that he is “devastated” after Formula 1 opted to reject its bid to establish an 11th Formula 1 team.

The 1978 F1 World Champion took to social media on Wednesday evening to express his dissatisfaction, hours after F1's refusal was confirmed.

Andretti Global's F1 effort is being spearheaded by Mario's son Michael, who was in talks with Formula One Management after being granted approval by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

Andretti was hoping to enter F1 as soon as 2025 with operations already in full swing at its factory.

However, F1's commercial rights holders did not see the added value that Andretti would bring to the sport and opted to reject its bid.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Mario Andretti delivered a short message: “I'm devastated.

“I won't say anything else because I can't find any other words besides devastated.”

With no entry possible for Andretti in the coming two years, F1 didn't completely rule out the prospect of the bid being reconsidered in the future.

F1 has highlighted that it is open to reconsidering the bid for 2028 when General Motors has signed up to enter as a Power Unit manufacturer with Andretti.