Andretti Global and Cadillac's racing arm said that they "'strongly disagree' with Formula 1 management's assessment and rejection of the pair's formal application for entry" into F1, according to Nathan Brown of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Hours after F1 issued its "thorough, three-page rebuke of Andretti Cadillac's efforts," the hopeful F1 team said its "work continues at pace," despite the rejection. The pair said, "Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula 1 Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents. Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organizations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1.” They added, "We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace.” Brown noted after being the only finalist selected by F1 governing body FIA to "have its application reviewed by FOM," Andretti Global had “already hired 120 people working out of a satellite shop in the U.K., including 50 GM engineers, a technical director and leaders on the aerodynamics and design side.” The team's leadership had planned to “build a full-size car later this year to use in homologation testing.” Andretti Global has “long received public and private pushback” from F1 officials and the majority active teams' leaders, with objections that “ranged from the losses teams believed they'd incur if an 11th team was admitted to the grid, to the fact that F1 simply didn't think a new team would be additive enough to the larger landscape of the sport” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/31).
LESS IS MORE? Former Haas F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner said that F1's decision to block Andretti joining before 2028 “shows the sport is in such good health it can no longer afford to have uncompetitive teams.” Steiner appearing on ESPN's Unlapped podcast shortly after FOM's decision had been made public said, "I think they looked at it and thought it was too ambitious.” Steiner: "I don't have all the information. Maybe they looked at it and they said we want them but we want to make sure they are successful when they come, protect them from themselves.” He added F1 “didn't close the door completely.” Steiner: “Show us you can get prepared and be competitive by then and I think we'd welcome them.” ESPN.com’s Nate Saunders noted Steiner likened the decision to how soccer has "safeguards such as relegation to punish uncompetitive teams,” something which does “not exist in F1.” Steiner said if a soccer team does not "put the effort in and the financial means behind it, you are relegated and that's your destiny," but in F1 "once you're in you have the right to stay in ... not forever, as nothing is forever, but for a long time." Steiner: "There is no weak team now, it's very competitive. You cannot fail. FOM would not allow anyone to fail. So you need to make 100 percent sure you can prove you will not fail” (ESPN.com, 1/31).
