Andretti was reported to say that he understood the teams, and would do the same in a similar position. If he was misquoted one can blame the media. Andretti never denied saying it.
Well since we don’t have the quote and we’re therefore interpreting what he is alleged to have said (or intended to say), I think the meaning is that he understood that they would want to protect their financial interests and that he would too. He did not equate rejecting an additional team with necessarily protecting their interests. I agree with that. I don’t think admitting an 11th team would necessarily “harm” the financial interests of the other teams. Of course the neverAndretti crew will disagree with that……
It would take a lot of convicing for anyone to accept that dividing something in 11 parts is the same as in 10 parts !! The solution to that deadlock would be for Andretti to pay a substantial dilution fee; $600M have been quoted.
Maybe they could try thinking outside the lines. Maybe the team would add value to the series. I’d wager some of the back runners would be embarrassed pretty quickly, though. Maybe that’s the problem.
Andretti's problem is that he isn't a corporate politician. Like Enzo and so many of the greats who made this sport so exciting, Michael and his father are racing drivers who want to race. They want to bring a car of their own making to a race track and compete with all the others. Andretti wants to race to win, unlike Haas who just wants to milk his share of the prize money but really doesn't bring a racer's desire to the sport.
In what way ? "Adding value" is a very much an empty expression. Apart from sponsorship, the teams draw part of their income from Liberty's profit, according to a sliding scale based on their performance. Will the Andretti participation boost Liberty's revenue ? Nothing is more uncertain, IMO.
I can understand why the Andretti cause get lots of sympathy from your side of the pond. But it's simply business; Andretti is trying muscle his way to get membership of a club where he is not wanted.
One gets the feeling that another Euro team would meet less resistance. I think they’re still smarting over the Liberty’s ownership.
A few "European" applicants have been turned down too. Liberty is a US company, and they aren't welcoming Andretti with open arms, it seems.
Europe is always afraid of American competition, in business as well as sports. Haas is an example of tokenism...an American team that doesn't try, so not a threat.
Have another drink lol. Haas is the lowly underfunded team by Gene’s choice. No other American team was looking to enter lol
It is! The excuses around “American” here have zero foundation. Such victims and Liberty is American lol. Absurd logic.
Protect team values and send message to Ben Sulayem to maybe ask/ coordinate first BEFORE expanding the grid lol - oh and 2028 pay us a billion$.
I'm bummed for Andretti, but the bigger picture is who is left who is willing to pay that much money, and get that jerked around, that isn't already in F1. basically the sport just made themselves growth-proof at a time of their greatest (commercial) growth.
Ummm, I think they see F1 as a way to make more $$$. I know they are racers etc... but in the end, those days are gone, they count wins by the bank balance.
F-1 could care less about Andretti being "American" ... F1 loves American - dollars.... about as much as anything else. The rejection is about Money - 100% and nothing else. nobody is afraid of any competition etc... its about keeping the business model at the same or better profitability as it has been. The reality is that the F-1 pop is somewhat over, and it will start to decline... to many races, too high of ticket prices etc... its happening before our very eyes. as soon as the value starts to fall out of F-1 ownership, they will start to drop... and my guess will be Andretti will not be there trying to buy one... he sees a way to make $$$$ that is what this is all about.
F1 would have brought more "added value" to the Andretti brand than the other way around. What would F1 have gained from an 11th team? Disruption to their business model. F1 is OK with 10 teams. The timing was simply wrong, IMO.
