The Red Bull Racing boss expressed his surprise at the decision taken by Formula 1 to block Andretti Cadillac’s entry into the series, which has now caught the attention of the United States Congress.
This week, six U.S. senators have called on the Department of Justice to investigate whether Formula 1’s decision to block Andretti Cadillac from entering as the 11th team in the championship violates any antitrust laws.
During the Monaco Grand Prix on Friday, team boss Christian Horner shared his surprise at Andretti’s decision to go down this path. However, he remains hopeful that if they are truly determined to secure a spot on the grid, they will find a way to do so. Horner believes the most logical solution would be for Andretti to acquire an existing team that is willing to sell.
General Motors, operating under the Cadillac brand, is involved in the Andretti Cadillac venture, which was rejected by Formula 1 Management (FOM) in its request to expand the Formula 1 grid.
Although Michael Andretti’s bid was approved by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), FOM subsequently denied their entry for either 2025 or 2026, citing concerns about Andretti’s competitiveness.
Formula 1 management has slightly softened its stance by promising to reconsider Andretti’s entry in 2028, once GM has a competition-ready engine.
Horner enthusiastically welcomes Andretti and Cadillac to Formula 1, stating that Andretti has an impressive racing legacy, with his father, Mario Andretti, being a legendary figure in the sport. He also recognizes Cadillac as an important American car manufacturer. Horner suggests that the best approach for Andretti to enter the sport and protect the stability of existing teams is to acquire one of the current teams.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, representative of the Sauber team, also believes that acquiring shares in an existing team is the right path for Andretti and Cadillac to follow. He praises the clear and robust process of Formula 1 for such acquisitions, citing Audi as an example of a brand that has successfully followed this path.
Horner dismisses any claims of bias against Andretti and praises Liberty Media, the American owner of Formula 1, for their efforts in growing the series and strengthening the teams. He emphasizes that the issue at hand is solely related to the business model of Formula 1 and has nothing to do with Andretti’s American identity.
In conclusion, Horner praises Liberty Media for creating a model that has led even the weakest team in Formula 1 to have a billion-dollar valuation.
