Michael Andretti Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Formula 1 rejects Andretti's bid to join grid in 2025

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 1/31/24

After years of planning and politicking, Formula 1 has formally rejected Andretti's bid to join the grid in the coming seasons.

"Our assessment process has established that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the Championship," F1 said.

F1 can support a maximum of 12 teams per its current regulations, but just 10 participate in the series: Alpine, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Haas, Kick Sauber, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Visa Cash App RB and Williams. The Andretti bid – backed by American racing driver Michael Andretti – aimed to be the second U. S.-based team on the grid and was supported by Cadillac and GM.

"I'm devastated," Andretti said on social media after the announcement. "I won't say anything else because I can't find any other words besides devastated."

I'm devastated. I won't say anything else because I can't find any other words besides devastated. pic.twitter.com/UaFBC5n9qF
— Mario Andretti (@MarioAndretti) January 31, 2024

Andretti's bid was never warmly received by the existing F1 teams. With each taking a percentage of F1's prize money, the emergence of an 11th team would have shrunk their percentages and impacted their budgeting. Andretti's only supporter in F1 was Alpine, which was tapped to provide Andretti's engines (and therefore earn money for their products).

But according to F1, the Andretti bid failed because it wasn't likely to succeed.

"The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value [to F1] is by being competitive," F1 explained. "We do not believe that the Applicant [Andretti] would be a competitive participant. This would involve a novice entrant building two completely different cars in its first two years of existence."

Andretti, though, is no novice. The Andretti Global organization already has competitive teams in IndyCar and Formula E.

While F1's Andretti rejection is final for 2025, it will be open to reevaluation in 2028. By that time, Andretti's backer (GM) will be building an F1 power unit and F1's 'novice' argument would hold less water.

But until then, fans must make do with 'competitive' teams like Haas and Kick Sauber – neither of whom cracked 20 points in last year's Constructor Standings – instead.

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