Andretti-Cadillac's F1 Dream: A Tug-of-War between FIA and Liberty Media

Cadillac F1 to Pay Record $450 Million New Team Fee
7 August 2023 by    2 min read
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Aug.7 - The saga of whether Andretti-Cadillac will be welcomed to the Formula 1 grid is still the subject of a tug-of-war between the sport's two separate authorities.

Originally, the FIA set a late June deadline for an announcement about whether up to two new teams will be given the green light for 2025 or 2026.

"We pushed the deadline back because some of the teams asked for more time. And we don't want to exclude anyone," FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told motorsport-total.com.

He admitted that some of the existing teams are "not happy" with the idea of having their value or incomes diluted, but said the FIA must be fair in assessing the potential new entrants.

"We have a contract that says we can have up to 12 teams," he said. "And we don't break any rules. On the contrary, we follow them exactly."

Ben Sulayem admitted that a "manufacturer team from the USA" would be difficult to turn away.

The owner of the sport's commercial rights, however, appears willing to see Andretti-Cadillac turned away.

"I think (F1 CEO) Stefano (Domenicali) and I agree that there are 10 great teams in Formula 1 already," Greg Maffei, chief executive of Liberty Media, told investors during a financial conference call.

"The process of selecting new teams has been launched, but the bar is set very high," he said. "And it's completely unclear what value the new team could add."

Maffei admits that Liberty and the FIA are not on the same page.

"We have had a productive discussion with the FIA on these issues," he said. "Have we reached agreement on all the issues? No.

"The discussion continues, and I hope that we will resolve everything."

F1 CEO Domenicali expects the outcome of the saga to be known "in September".

"We will find an agreement together," said the Italian, "because the value of the teams and Formula 1 is very, very high these days."

Former F1 driver and German-language pundit Ralf Schumacher thinks Liberty and the FIA will ultimately agree on the outcome.

"There will be a compromise," he told Sport1. "In the end, the good of the sport is more important than the concerns of individual teams."

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14 F1 Fan comments on “Andretti-Cadillac's F1 Dream: A Tug-of-War between FIA and Liberty Media”

    • smokey

      ROR, I don't know what you wrote, however, I have found that certain words (even though they may not be blasphemous or swearing) will exclude a post being displayed, and will be rejected.

      • ReallyOldRacer

        Actually, it was really innocuous, but you must be correct. I wish that they would send an explanation but I'm not Leopold's fav ever since I described VerDaddy as a wife beater.

        1
        • Shroppyfly

          Leopolds on F1 shutdown the same as all the teams, I've just been told, So your free to say what you like Ror, it was the new AI hes been testing that picked it up Ror, which has now been switched off.

          • ReallyOldRacer

            Just got a note from Leopold & he didn't know the answer. UR correct, probably AI. The post was really tame. I'd just like to know the word or phrase that triggered so that I don't repeat.

            I did criticise Liberty in the post. Maybe Flav' hacked the site. LOLOL

            1
  2. smokey

    Smells very strongly of greed, IMO!
    I mean, it's not that long ago we had 13 teams with 26 cars competing and the fastest 20 cars in qualifying made the grid.
    F2 and F3 have more than 20 cars on the starting grid, so why not F1? And as was stated, the organisers have a contract to allow 12 teams, 24 cars, to compete. Why not?

    2
  3. ReallyOldRacer

    I just tried to copy the post to you and Smokey...X'd again. I guess that I can't say that Maffei is a media manager & not a racer.

    1

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