Michael Andretti has made some arrangements during the celebration of the Miami Grand Prix, including a meeting with the president of the FIA. However, he still has opposition from some teams in the category.
It has always been said that the power of the Formula 1 teams is excessive and, although the new Concord Agreement signed in August 2020 took power away from them, both the FIA and Liberty Media remain very interested in keeping the 10 happy participating formations.
Especially those that, in addition to supplying engines, have associated or directly affiliated teams. It is the case of Mercedes or Red Bull. Also the Ferrari.
This means that, in practice, many of the important decisions must be made with the approval of these powerful Formula 1 lobbies.
Andretti meets with Ben Sulayem
On the occasion of the celebration of the Miami Grand Prix, Michael Andretti he met with Mohammed ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, to try to gain his support. According to the American, said support is a reality.
“I think he supports us, but there is a big process that you have to go through and all that. But it’s good, Mohammed liked what we presented. I don’t want to say too much, they don’t want to talk too much about it. But they are positive things », he affirmed.
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In fact, Andretti is moving in advance so that, in the event that the FIA finally approves his entry into Formula 1, the plan to start racing in 2024 remains feasible.
“I think I’m not going to get an answer for a while. We’re spending money to get things going, because we feel hopefully we’ll get there. We’re taking a risk, but we think it’s worth it. ‘Cause we gotta get the ball rolling. So we are hiring people and things like that, “acknowledges Andretti.
Andretti plans to have a Formula 1 headquarters in both Indianapolis and the UK. The first would start construction in August, but the second will probably be an existing one.
Toto Wolff, the main opponent
Unfortunately, Andretti’s intention to join the grid has received a lukewarm reaction from some figures within the paddock. Any new equipment must pay a canon of 200 million dollarsas established in the terms of the Concord Agreement with the aim of protecting existing teams and their cash prizes.
“10 teams is not the right number,” Andretti countered. “If you really think about it, they have the Concordia Agreement until 2025. Now, Red Bull owns two teams. If they say they are retiring, then you have 16 cars.”.
“You can’t have a race with 16 cars. You can have a career with 18. It gives teams a lot of leverage to have additional teams. I think millions of people see it as successful (Andretti’s entry into F1). They just aren’t the right people right now.”he concluded.
Greg Maffeipresident and CEO of Liberty Media (owner and manager of Formula 1), limited himself to pointing out that “there is a possibility that we can increase the teams over time. I don’t think it’s a pressing need. There are a lot of people who would like us to do it. But we haven’t felt that need.”
Andretti’s only hope is to convince the teams on the grid that his entry into Formula 1 will help increase the popularity and interest of fans and investors in the series, especially in the United States.
Only in this way will they be willing to share part of their income with an 11th team.