Liberty Media is currently under investigation by the United States’ Department of Justice to determine whether their rejection of Andretti Global’s entry into Formula 1 was unfair. The owners of the sport have stated that they will cooperate with the federal government’s antitrust division in this probe. They denied Andretti’s team entry bid, claiming that they would not be competitive, despite receiving approval from the FIA. Liberty Media’s CEO, Greg Maffei, expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation and stated that their decision was in compliance with US antitrust laws. They are open to new entrants if they meet the necessary requirements set by the FIA and F1.
In May 2024, Senator Amy Klobuchar raised concerns about potential antitrust law violations by F1 in order to protect European competitors from Andretti Global and their engine providers, General Motors-Cadillac. Mario Andretti, a former world champion, expressed his devastation and offense at Formula One Management’s reasons for barring his return to the sport as a manufacturer. He claimed that during a meeting, Greg Maffei stated that he would do everything in his power to prevent Michael Andretti from entering Formula 1. This personal remark deeply affected Mario Andretti.
Despite opposition from multiple teams, including Williams, who feared a negative impact on their profits, Andretti Global continues to work towards proving their value to F1. They have opened a factory near Silverstone and have hired around 80 staff members. They have also enlisted the expertise of Pat Symonds, a British motor racing technical expert, to join their team. Andretti Global is dedicated to research and development and has been testing a 2023 F1 car spec in a wind tunnel to gain a better understanding of aerodynamics and mechanical behaviors.
Michael Andretti remains optimistic about their chances of joining the F1 championship. He emphasizes the significance of General Motors’ involvement and believes that once everyone understands the full extent of their plans, it will be impossible to reject them. While there were initial plans to join in 2026 with a Renault power unit, the timeline is uncertain due to Alpine’s potential interest in purchasing a Mercedes power unit. FOM has indicated that Andretti Global could potentially join the championship in 2028, pending the development of their own engine.
Photo from F1 (X) Account
