U.S. Congress members have written to Liberty Media, expressing concerns over the exclusion of Andretti Global and General Motors from Formula 1, suggesting it may be anti-competitive and requesting explanations for the rejection.
Highlights
‣ Members of the U.S. Congress have expressed concerns to Liberty Media about the exclusion of Andretti Global from Formula 1, suggesting it may be anti-competitive and potentially in violation of American antitrust laws.
‣ Formula One Management (FOM) advised Andretti Global, partnered with General Motors under the Cadillac brand, to reapply for the 2028 season after their initial bid to join F1 was rejected.
‣ Despite the setback, Andretti Global is actively working on developing their own F1 car and has opened a factory in Silverstone, indicating their continued commitment to joining Formula 1, as well as their intentions to join Formula 2 and Formula 3.
‣ The letter from Congress to Liberty Media’s CEO Gregory Maffei demands clear answers on the authority and rationale behind FOM’s rejection of Andretti Global’s bid, highlighting concerns over fairness and the merit-based participation of teams in Formula 1.
So, here’s the scoop. A bunch of U.S. Congress members decided to drop a line to the big bosses at Liberty Media. They’re kinda scratching their heads, wondering why Andretti Global got the cold shoulder from Formula 1. It’s a bit of a mystery, right?
Andretti Global, with all their ambition, tried to snag a spot in F1. But, no dice. Formula One Management (FOM) gave them a thumbs down this January. Ouch.
But wait, there’s a twist. FOM whispered to Michael Andretti, the big American dreamer behind the bid, “Hey, why not give 2028 a shot?” Coincidence or not, that’s exactly when General Motors, under the flashy Cadillac brand, wants to zoom into F1 as an engine supplier, with Andretti riding shotgun.
Despite getting the brush-off, Andretti isn’t just sitting around. They’re actually cooking up their own F1 car. They’ve even set up shop in Silverstone and are eyeing spots in Formula 2 and Formula 3. Talk about not taking “no” for an answer!
### Letter sent to Liberty Media
The Congress folks penned a pretty stern letter to Gregory Maffei, the big kahuna at Liberty Media. They’re not too pleased, hinting at some not-so-fair play that might keep Andretti Global and General Motors out of the F1 party.
They’re throwing around words like “anti-competitive actions” and hinting that this whole mess smells a bit fishy. It seems like the current European F1 teams, cozy with their car-making buddies, might not want American players on their turf. That’s not playing nice, is it?
The letter doesn’t just wag a finger. It demands some straight answers. Like, on what planet does FOM get off rejecting Andretti Global? And what’s the real story behind giving them the boot?
They want these answers by May 3rd, which, by a funny coincidence, is when the Miami Grand Prix kicks off. Talk about timing, huh?
So, there you have it. A bit of a telenovela in the high-octane world of Formula 1, with a dash of political intrigue. Will Andretti and GM make it to the starting line? Stay tuned, folks.
