by VALERIO BARRETTA
F1 with limited numbers?
Other than expansion to 12 teams: Formula 1 can become even more exclusive. The teams and Liberty Media want to block at the base the possibility for the “new” players to enter the Circus in the new Concorde pact which will come into force from 2026 and must be signed by the end of next year.
According to what was reported by my colleague Joe Saward, the teams don't want to risk a new Andretti casea team promoted by the Federation but rejected by FOM essentially because the entry of an 11th competitor it would have reduced the share of income from TV rights and sponsors for the ten teams that compete today in the top automotive championship. Currently the team limit is 12, which had convinced the FIA to open a process for new interested teams to enter F1 at the beginning of 2023.
If this 10-team “limited number” were to come into effect, Andretti's only chance of competing in Formula 1 would be to purchase an existing team. The Americans – it should be remembered – tried to take over Sauber (before the arrival of Audi) and established commercial relationships with Renault/Alpine (which however confirmed that it was not for sale) without much success. On their side, they have a very important agreement with General Motorswho will enter Formula 1 from 2028, specifying that he wants entry only with Andretti.
Who sells?
We know that political battles are the order of the day in Formula 1. And it could be the teams, now, Andretti's allies. In fact, if the latter put pressure on the FIA and Liberty Media so that Red Bull no longer has a “satellite” team (RB), something that McLaren CEO Zak Brown has complained about a lot, a new window would open up for Andretti even if the ten-team limit is approved.
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