Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Miami International Autodrom,e, 2024

Andretti: F1’s owner told me we’ll never let your team in

Formula 1

Posted on

| Written by

Mario Andretti has claimed the president of Formula 1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media told him his son’s team would never be allowed to enter the series.

The 1978 world champion said Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei warned him three weeks ago he would do everything he could to block the application by Michael Andretti.

Andretti described how Maffei interrupted an exchange between him and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali on Saturday during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.

“Mr Maffei, broke in the conversation and he said: ‘Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1,'” Andretti told NBC.

According to Andretti, Maffei then walked away. “I could not believe that,” he said. “That one really floored me.”

“We’re talking about business,” he added. “I didn’t know it was something so personal. That was really — oh, my goodness. I could not believe it. It was just like a bullet through my heart.”

Greg Maffei
Andretti claims Maffei doesn’t want his son’s team in F1
Andretti’s application to enter Formula 1 was approved by the FIA following a lengthy selection process in October last year. Formula One Management declared in January they should not be allowed into the series, but Andretti has nonetheless continued its preparations.

It opened a technical base in Silverstone last month with a UK workforce of around 80 people. Earlier this week it hired Pat Symonds, previously FOM’s chief technical officer, to join as a consultant following a period of gardening leave. Symonds has spent the last seven years at F1 and devised F1’s current technical regulations as well as the new rules due for introduction in 2026, when Andretti hopes to be on the grid.

F1 is facing pressure from US lawmakers over its refusal to admit Andretti. This week six senators wrote to the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division to raise their concerns about FOM.

“Clearly there is a financial incentive to adding an American team to F1’s roster, and there is no reason they should be blocked unless [Formula 1 Management] is trying to insulate its current partners from competition,” they stated.

Formula One Management has been approached for comment.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Formula 1

Browse all Formula 1 articles

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

94 comments on “Andretti: F1’s owner told me we’ll never let your team in”

  1. That should tell everyone what they need to know.

    1. Only if you believe it

      1. Any reason not to? Or do you think Mario’s a liar?

        1. grat, we are in a situation where we can’t really tell if Mario is telling the truth, or if he is lying or exaggerating about events – and we do have to be careful that it is in the Andretti’s interests to put out a more dramatic account of events that stirs up public anger.

          The account that has come from Liberty Media’s side paints a very different picture to that of Mario. According to them, the conversation was initiated by Mario approaching Greg during a scheduled breakfast meeting to ask if he could discuss their decision to reject his application. That was then followed by a longer and more amicable chat between Mario and Greg that ended with Greg stating that Liberty Media were sticking with their original decision.

          It is worth noting that, later on in that same interview, there does seem to be some “stretching of the truth” by Mario. When asked whether he had been lobbying the senators calling on the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to launch an antitrust investigation, Mario claimed “I did not initiate that” and instead claimed that those senators had approached him first.

          However, we now know from recent disclosures on lobbying activities that Andretti Formula Racing LLC started employing two lobbying organisations, Miller Strategies and Tiber Creek Group, and have been actively recruiting former members of the Senate Judiciary as paid lobbyists. The interest that those senators have been paying to the cause of the Andretti’s does seem to be suspiciously closely timed to the Andretti’s making their own “campaign donations” to certain lawmakers.

          1. Mario reputation is damned near bulletproof. Not nearly as easy to say that about Greg Maffei. He oversees Live Nation (parent of Ticketmaster) who have been fleecing concertgoers and the entertainers they go to see for years, and just sued by the DOJ. And now the US Congress has sent a letter to DOJ asking them to investigate F1. He also happens to be the CEO of Liberty Media the commercial rights holder of F1. The last time I checked, using lobbyists isn’t illegal. Mario using the legal means at his disposal to make his case is the intelligent thing to do.

      2. Lets see what FOM say, but given their spurious reasoning, this actually wouldnt be surprising at all. Almost every pundit and fan disagreed with their reason for rejecting Andretti.
        Regardless, this is seriously making FOM look bad.

  2. Bring it to court. The discovery process alone will give reporters books worth of content.

    Let’s not forget how fast Liberty opened their wallets when Sauber and Force India threatened to do the same.

    1. Tiaki Porangi
      23rd May 2024, 10:16

      If there’s one thing that scares the bejeesus out of me whenever I think of the American legal system, it’s that “discovery process”.
      It’s brutal.
      I both fear it and respect it!

      1. dont kid yourself. the legal system is not a system, but people. too much power in the hands of a few. people get screwed left and right by the legal system.

        if you are on their side u win. if not ur done.

        from high profile to the normal jon doe. if a cop or DA hates you, you are toast no matter what.

        1. greasemonkey
          23rd May 2024, 20:07

          Not strictly true. In non high profile cases, it can work astonishingly well given it involves people arguing with people. What you see in the media is the extremes. Day to day in LA, due process, evidence, etc, all still matter. (even with a hateful DA, my stepson did not get convicted, due to evidence and process mattering more than DA spite).

    2. Wow.. so much for breaking into the US market.

  3. It would probably be best for f1 to let them in so there is a spare team. I doubt Alpine/Renault is going to be sticking around for long if they keep running around at the back.

    1. notagrumpyfan
      23rd May 2024, 14:09

      Any ‘spare team’ will be picked up immediately.
      I’d buy any team for double what Brawn paid.

  4. I find it quite funny that Liberty are so intent on shooting themselves in both feet over Andretti.

    It kinda makes you wonder just how many changes they have planned for F1 that require such support from the existing teams – such that losing their support by allowing Andretti in on the spoils clearly threatens their collective partnership and what each party has to gain from it. It obviously goes much further than just money.

    1. Indeed. Liberty is a scary party that has shown its cards. And these cards have nothing, nothing to do with sports. Its a traditional ‘all for the money’ and shareholder value money grabbing bunch. The embodiment of what is wrong with todays western society.

      1. The worst part for F1 is that the teams now are no different to Liberty.
        You’d have hoped the competitors that are supposedly so passionate about F1 would do more to protect it.
        Perhaps they all just have Stockholm Syndrome.

        Looks like the FIA is the only party involved still interested in F1 as anything but a cash cow.

        1. I think this is a result of having too many car manufacturer teams. In the past more chassis developers, finding an engine for their creation, were around. They were around out of a passion for racing. Now it is a marketing and business case firstly.

      2. When you turn down 20 billion from the Saudi Wealth fund it’s all about egos. That’s why Gene Haas told those investors to take their measly $200 million and hit the door. At this altitude it’s all about egos.

    2. I find it quite funny that Liberty are so intent on shooting themselves in both feet over Andretti.

      I find it incredible. Maffei has managed to climb the greasy pole of management to the top of a rather large corporation and he, allegedly, makes a statement to a disappointed bidder that is pure dynamite?

      “Mr Maffei, broke in the conversation and he said: ‘Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1,’” Andretti told NBC

      There are two possibilities:
      1. It isn’t true
      2. Maffei is an idiot

      1. Or 3. Both.
        Idiots do run large corporations, and clever people can make very poor decisions. Indisputable facts…

        Anyway – it probably wasn’t said verbatim, but the sentiment has been pretty clear all along.

      2. There’s at least a third option: Mr. Maffei has gotten too far out over his skis.

        1. I’m guessing you haven’t got around to reading the NBC article fully and taking in the bit where a source says that:
          1. Andretti was the one who butted in
          2. GM actually said something totally different. To quote the article, quoting the source:
          “Maffei indicated to Andretti that its application to join the grid in 2025 or 2026 had been rejected for good business reasons.”
          No threat to bar them, nothing personal in any way.

          When I wrote my original comment, I hadn’t fully read the referenced NBC article. I have now, and I’m more inclined to go with my first option – “It isn’t true”

          1. The NBC article has already been called into question. Have you got around to reading about Live Nation (another Liberty Media company and another NBC article) that is being sued by DOJ for anti-trust violations? Sound familiar? I’m more inclined to go with my option: Maffei is too far out over is skis.

      3. Steve, I think it could also be a statement out of context. People often use “never” to mean “I think it is unlikely”. For example, “I’ll put it to them but they are never going to agree”.

  5. A fish rots from the head… And F1 sure has been stinky lately.

    1. Let’s not give the teams a free pass here. I doubt Liberty actually cares all that much; they have in the past been perfectly happy to significantly cut the payout to teams under the pretext of ‘investments’. Would they care if the payout is split into 11 parts rather than 10? Probably not. It’s not really their problem in any case.

      S above is probably on to something; there’s something that’s making Liberty dance to the teams’ tune. Why? Who knows. Could it be the new Concorde Agreement that also faces opposition from an FIA keen to regain some of its lost powers? There’s probably more to this than just Andretti.

      Williams has zero points. Sauber has zero points. Alpine has 1 point. Haas has 7 points. Even the Red Bull Test Team only has 20 points. That’s half the grid right there. The idea that F1 teams should be ‘competitive for wins’ is a flat out nonsensical bar to entry.

      1. I couldn’t agree with you more. I don’t know if Liberty cares, but their CEO certainly does. Greg Maffei was the CFO at Oracle and Microsoft. He’s a bean counter. I’m not sure he is capable of understanding that the quality of the product is important to the bottom line. So the notion that better racing is important is probably not on his bucket list. For all I know, Mr. Maffei may be like a lot of American CEOs: Make as much money as you can and then sell it. The only legacy they care about is their net worth.

        1. So mr Maffei is ex-Oracle and ex-Microsoft.
          Thank you for that info. I didn’t know.
          But it makes perfect sense.

          I’ve long wondered what F1 is nowadays.
          From having once been a sport, it seems to have morphed into a form of asset management.

          Well, I hope Liberty has fun with their spreadsheets and their net worth.
          I’m going fishing. :)

          1. It’s become asset management from the moment Ecclestone started to sell shares to third parties.
            Since then it was no longer about making the sport more professional and more organized, it’s only been about making more money.

        2. Mark Jurczyk
          23rd May 2024, 15:58

          Andretti’s won’t bring anything to F1, look at the teams like Williams , they trying to make money by forcing themselves in, this will never work ! They are trying to pay 200 million entry fee and be worth over billion overnight ! If they want to be in F1 so bad, do what others did, buy existing team for couple billion , I guess they can’t swing that from investors , hahaha

      2. I doubt Liberty actually cares all that much

        I’m not sure how you can possibly think that given this bombshell. The CEO clearly had an axe to grind and cares very much.

        Everything else you say is true but is old news in comparison.

        1. It’s not that clear, though. It might well be that his hands are tied and that making sure Andretti (or anyone else) is kept out is critical to keeping everyone else in line. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time the teams scuppered the Concorde Agreement, had to be bought off, or a variation on that team. They’re a big player in all this, too. Especially now that the FIA is positioning itself as quite combative, the FOM doesn’t need this to become a two front struggle.

  6. Why can’t Andretti start his own series.
    As much as I have some sympathy for him I also believe there is nothing too fantastic about his entry that a few individuals had not tried in the past. I can’t walk up to the NBA, NASCAR or INDYCAR and demand to be allowed to participate. The process for entry it usually through a process where other potential entrants are allowed representation and then consideration is given on merit. You can’t just decide when you want to get in and try force your way in.

    1. Andretti/Cadillac has been accepted by FIA. They opened the application process and Andretti/Cadillac applied. All ten teams signed the Concorde Agreement that allows for two new teams and a dilution fee of $200 million a team. Andretti/Cadillac hasn’t beaten down any doors. The door was opened, and they’re just trying to walk through. If you have $8 billion, you can get in the NFL any time you want. The American leagues are not closed shops.

      1. $8 billion!!!

        We can all own our teams

        1. I know. It ain’t cheap!

          1. Esploratore
            23rd May 2024, 16:20

            The problem is money talks in f1 and I wouldn’t be surprised if andretti would be approved by the fom, if only they offered 600 mil instead of 200, but again the rules state 200.

          2. Mmm, again issues with logging in and posting with right acc, it seems.

    2. ” I can’t walk up to […] INDYCAR and demand to be allowed to participate.”
      Oh yes, you can. Actually, you don’t have to “demand” anything. Just build a team, buy a car, hire a driver and go race it in IndyCar.
      If there is more entrants then the venues capacity, everybody will have to qualify for the race. That’s it.

      1. Indycar has an admission process and that comes with various requirements. Its rules also give a lot of seemingly arbitrary power over that process to the organization. But they are certainly more open to new entries and I can’t think of any team that has been rejected.

    3. IndyCar is currently facing too many participants– they have 27 cars, which is the limit for many of the tracks in terms of pitlane facilities.

      But that’s not the problem with F1.

      1. greasemonkey
        23rd May 2024, 20:15

        Thats why “qualifying” was ever called “qualifying” in the first place, not “grid sorting”. Who qualifies for this race? The fastest N entries (in some cases with the extra “being within 107%).

  7. “We’re talking about business,” he added. “I didn’t know it was something so personal. That was really — oh, my goodness. I could not believe it. It was just like a bullet through my heart.”

    I think you made it personal when you directly dragged Greg into it. You went to the hill and lobbied to have Greg in the crosshairs of Congress. A man already dealing with the DOJ. Your son is going around telling reporters he had no idea a week or so after he smirked when he was asked if Andretti was exploring anti trust ventures.
    And you just poached the guy who was directly involved in 2026 regulations from FOM’s side – excellent play by the way.

    I’m not going to agree with Greg if this is true but I’m equally not going to pretend I’m buying your naive act. You stepped on a lot of toes, and you specifically asked for bloodshed, welcome to formula 1.

    1. Mr Maffei made it personal when he walked up Mario Andretti, and said that I’m going to do everything in my power to see that your son can’t get into F1. No toes have been stepped on that didn’t need it. Andretti/Cadillac have the right to hire the best people. Pat Symonds fits pretty well into that category. If Greg Maffei doesn’t want to be subpoenaed by congress or a court, he needs to stop being naive, stop acting like a bull in a china shop, and allow Andretti/Cadillac on the grid.

      1. Turns out, there’s more to the Greg story, see comment below
        Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/mario-andretti-formula-1-owner-personally-threatened-shut-team-andrett-rcna153601

        I like the fact that Andretti hired Pat, did you read the part where I explicitly called it an excellent play? No? Read again

        The group in charge of printing money did their research and came to the conclusion F1 didn’t need Andretti right now but try again in 2028 with Cadillac. Harsh but the door isn’t shut and more importantly, so far they were right

        It’s a business decision that Mario is now pivoting to make personal. He called for blood and now he’s telling interesting interpretations of other people’s words. The Andretti camp really do know how to media, I’ll absolutely hand them their roses on that one.

        1. Harsh but the door isn’t shut and more importantly, so far they were right

          What is this supposed to prove?
          That F1 is in a healthy commercial position because they have (so far, effectively) denied Andretti?
          If Mario is telling the truth here, then that door really is closed.

          1. it’s supposed to be irrefutable evidence that yes, at least of writing, Andretti does not provide value to the commercial rights holders – a statement most people disagree with often without any factual basis.

            to this day, I’ve yet to see how exactly Andretti would add value to the series and I’ve been looking hard. I just see nebulous hand waving statements about how they simply would just add value as though it is a given. I find that hard to believe when their involvements in other series aren’t igniting fan bases. the Venn diagram of a diehard Andretti fan who somehow doesn’t know of F1 doesn’t exist. There is no untapped market Andretti is bringing, eyeballs, sponsors or otherwise.
            I don’t care if they or an 11th team get in, I’m just not going to pretend it makes perfect sense, feel free to call me a FOM shill for that one.

            denying Andretti wasn’t the catalyst for healthy commercial viability. if you read the article you’d know that.
            they been selling out tickets and raking profits before and after Andretti’s 2026 entry denial.

            we’ll see if Mario is telling the truth, I personally believe he’s stretching the truth.
            there’s demonstrable proof the “I didn’t initiate it” statement about Congress’ involvement is at best a white lie
            throw in the unnamed Liberty source account from NBC and the fact that Andretti is incentivized to incite public outcry and I personally have a hard time believing Mario’s account, but that’s just me.

          2. it’s supposed to be irrefutable evidence

            Well, it isn’t.

            to this day, I’ve yet to see how exactly Andretti would add value to the series and I’ve been looking hard.

            Clearly not, or you’ve simply failed to realise that the US, in particular, is extremely patriotic when it comes to international sports. If even just one more person pays to watch F1 as a result of Andretti’s participation, then that is a gain – though in a relatively wealthy country as passionate about motorsports as the US, the gain would potentially be at least 10’s of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands or more. That is significant.
            And that’s only the immediate financial boost – then there are additional North American sponsors as the interest grows and F1 media becomes more enticing to the US viewer.

            The ‘Andretti fans’ you mention probably aren’t that keen on F1 at present, as they have no need to be. Andretti aren’t in F1 yet… But you can bet that a bunch of them would follow Andretti’s progress in F1 quite keenly once they are.
            Don’t underestimate how indifferent many extremely dedicated motorsport enthusiasts are toward F1. It really is just another racing series – and it has a very large attitude problem that turns a lot of people off.

            there’s demonstrable proof the “I didn’t initiate it” statement about Congress’ involvement is at best a white lie

            Is there? Don’t believe everything you read in the media – but also don’t discount the opportunism for politicians to big-note themselves and take advantage of any issue that presents itself. Pushing Andretti into F1 would be great for some pollies’ egos and also for their results at the ballot box.

            The primary reason Liberty has to deny Andretti is due to the political balance that Liberty have achieved within FOM. In doing so, however, they have upset the FIA – the vital 3rd party in FOM, and the one that actually owns and operates the series and the rules it is based on.
            They’ve made the 10 current teams very happy and willing to go along with whatever they want to do to change F1, and adding an 11th team would upset that massively. Only two teams have shown any support for the 11th entry – one of them as a technical partner and engine supplier, and the other as a way to make more money in the longer term.

        2. “They didn’t need Andretti”?

          What does need have to do with it? The rules say they can have up to 12 teams, the FIA asked for bids and they accepted Andrettis bid. They have rules so they should follow them. It’s not a good enough reason to say “I’m profitable so we can ignore the rule book and the FIA”.

          1. the rules also say you need clearance from both the FIA and FOM.
            if we’re going to quote rules, let’s quote all of them

            Finally, the FIA will consider an “assessment of the value that the candidate may bring to the championship, including consideration of its reputation and integrity.”

            The FIA noted that F1’s commercial rights holder, Liberty Media, “may also impose additional selection criteria/conditions (to be advised separately during the application process).” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has previously indicated his resistance to expanding the grid beyond its current 10 teams.

            The FIA said it “anticipates” the final deadline for applications to be submitted will be April 30th 2023, and a decision will follow by June 30th.

            “For the avoidance of doubt, no new applicant has an automatic right of entry to the championship and the maximum number of teams competing in the Championship up to and including the 2025 season is capped at 12. Existing F1 teams will be given priority over new applicants. In the event that no applicant is considered suitable by the FIA and/or by the F1 Commercial Rights Holder, no new F1 team(s) will be selected.”

            The commercial rights has determined rightfully or wrongly that Andretti does not provide value to them.
            It is a business decision – one they appear to be correct on so far but we’ll see.
            I don’t care for or about it and you appear to hate it but this is a business decision and most importantly, the rules allow them to get away with it.
            it isn’t

            “I’m profitable so we can ignore the rule book and the FIA”.

            it’s

            “I’m profitable and the rule book the FIA and I wrote let me say no for now, try again in 2028 with an actual GM engine”.

          2. That is a consequence of the current Concorde Agreement which expires in 2025. The F1 rules give FOM zero say.

          3. That is a consequence of the current Concorde Agreement which expires in 2025

            so they can, just like the FIA already said in tender:
            For the avoidance of doubt, no one party holds exclusive rights to allow an entry.

            The F1 rules give FOM zero say.

            wait they can’t?

            which is it?
            or is this a “I’m not wrong just less right” situation?

        3. That NBC story is already being questioned. Anonymous sources are always something to avoid. I don’t think Mario is making it “personal”. He’s a racer, and Andretti/Cadillac in F1 is a big deal. I don’t have a dog in the fight, but being an American, I’d love to see them on the grid in 2026.

          1. really, you think Mario isn’t making this personal?

            you think the man who has former senate judiciary committee members actively lobbying for two separate firms he has hired with the goal to squeeze F1 isn’t making this personal?

            you think this is just about racing?
            I don’t have a dog either and I think I’ll be whelmed no matter what the outcome ends up being but I’m not going to lie, I sure do love everything about how this is playing out.

          2. @T: No I don’t think he’s making it personal. He didn’t go to Congress before Liberty tried to close the door that FIA opened. In F1 nothing is just about racing. But, to suggest that only Mario Andretti can’t use the tools available to him to get Andretti/Cadillac on the grid is absurd. The way “this is playing out” isn’t good for anyone. The viewership numbers are already down. It’s is very simply hurting the sport.

          3. viewership numbers are already down

            no it isn’t where did you get that from?
            at best, it plateaued
            I think I saw some salacious headline about a massive YoY drop but that was for only the first three races as compared to last year, one of those races being AUS which was broadcasted at midnight for most of the US.
            i looked into those three races and guess what
            Bahrain – sold out
            Saudi – all but the premium suites where sold out
            AUS – new attendance record – again

            the notion that this is “very simply hurting the sport” is to put it nicely, unfounded

            going to congress isn’t what made it personal, saying if they want blood, I’m ready and calling the rejection “offensive” and “insulting” and THEN quietly lobbying congress to threaten Greg and Stefano in multiple open letters while practically lying about it is what construes as personal. You initially stated he’s a racer and Andretti/Cadillac is a big deal and I just said this is more than racing. no where did i even hint Mario “can’t use the tools available to him to get Andretti/Cadillac on the grid”. I don’t find it absurd in the slightest, like I have stated and continue to state, I find this all very entertaining. It’s fun to watch a bridge burn when you’re not on it, maybe that’s where we differ: you watch in disdain or concern?, I chew popcorn. I smiled when I read this
            Absolute banger of a move, I simply must admit.

          4. Maybe how you react make you an outlier. But, if you’re looking for trends, you don’t want to see headlines like: Viewership down three years in a row, or Liberty Media CEO fighting with FIA.

          5. again, where are you getting these trends about viewership numbers? all I’m seeing are plateaus at worst (1), (2), (3)
            “Viewership down three years in a row” is an interesting interpretation that I just can’t share with you. sorry

            barely over a week ago, both FOM and FIA announced a move to seemingly bury the hatchet and be more synergistic. greg/liberty isn’t fighting with mbs/fia

            wherever you’re getting these trends from, they’re lying to you roger

          6. They’ll bury the hatchet. Hopefully not in each other. Google F1 headlines on viewership. Of course some races are sold out. That has nothing to do with TV ratings or on-line streams. How many people are still in the stands when Verstappen has a forty second lead with 20 laps left in the race every F1 weekend. How do the viewership numbers compare to other major sporting events? Are they up or down in comparison? Liberty isn’t worried about the aforementioned nearly enough.

          7. Google F1 headlines on viewership. Of course some races are sold out. That has nothing to do with TV ratings or on-line streams.

            i…did
            how’d you think I got those figures – the figures which include sold out seats, tv ratings and streams
            roger are you reading the things I send you? or we discounting them because it helps you?

            How many people are still in the stands when Verstappen has a forty second lead with 20 laps left in the race every F1 weekend.

            have you been watching? max with a 40 second lead and more laps to go is on the verge of extinction
            more importantly, (and permit me to go on a bit of a diatribe,) THIS IS F1. over the last twenty four years of formula one racing, there have only been eight (8!) unique champions most of who shared utter dominance during their reign. Nico, Jenson, and Kimi are the only one time champions. Compare that to Indycar’s twelve unique champions who never enjoyed such dominance. Dario is the only outlier and he even pales in comparison to MSC’s five year back to back reign. Dominance is embedded in the sport, it’s what makes the changeover so exciting. It’s what made 2021 so good and it’s what will make whoever challenges Max otherworldly.

            How do the viewership numbers compare to other major sporting events? Are they up or down in comparison? Liberty isn’t worried about the aforementioned nearly enough.

            the g forces on this pivot was crazy roger, you gotta warn me next time you do that.
            we’ve zoomed out from motorsports to sports and MAJOR sporting events at that with a euro step from basketball and my ankles did not see that one coming.
            motorsports are a niche sport, they’ve always been. even at it’s peak it never touched or dwarfed (ball) sports.
            Liberty isn’t worried about it because they know their lane and are doing better than before.
            you see unlike (ball)sports where teams play each other then advance, all the teams play each other at the same time every time for a season. Unlike team A from city A vs team B from city B for the Superbowl, every race is the Superbowl for motorsports – it’s a different ball game, pun intended. it’s not an apples to apples comparison roger.

            They’ll bury the hatchet. Hopefully not in each other.

            fingers crossed!!

    2. Slight correction: No one from Andretti, that I’m aware of, asked Congress to look into this. Mario was asked to go to Washington to answer some questions, which he did.

      1. are you sure about that?
        are you really really sure?

        see this is what I meant when I said the Andretti camp know how to media.
        there are reports stating this camp is ACTIVELY and quietly lobbying but when directly asked, they smirk and say they didn’t initiate

        a half truth – if we assume that it’s based in truth.
        I don’t believe for a second, Congress saw red bull drive circles at Washington and are now suddenly very interested in Andretti’s bid to the point they’re butchering the Sherman Act* and regurgitating Andretti’s words while the Andretti’s pretend it’s a nothing but a nice surprise congress is getting involved. I’m supposed to believe they asked YOU mario why you didn’t get in when f1 was just in their backyard? seriously?

        * how is it a violation when Ford is RIGHT THERE and the application they rejected explicitly leaves the door open for 2028, an application widely panned as a rebadged alpine with a pinky promise from GM to commit in 2028 and also they’ve made efforts to court GM for RIGHT NOW. on what planet is that anticompetitive conduct that limits an American’s options? WHY would Greg or Stefano consider Mercedes Benz or Ferrari sales figures when evaluating the commercial viability of Andretti? I wholly maintain the Sherman Act is a reach at best

  8. I’m not going to agree with Greg if this is true

    Turns out it may not even be true
    In the linked NBC article, there’s context that inexplicably wasn’t included in this article – top work Keith. NBC reports that a source who agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity states that never happened. The worse thing Greg said was Andretti’s bid for 2025/6 was rejected for good business reasons.
    That’s it. More importantly Mario approached Greg not the other way around

    Mario took that and turned around and said, Greg interrupted him to say he’d would do everything in his power to ensure Micheal never gets in.
    Good on NBC for not just running with Mario’s words as though it’s gospel. Jenna Fryer under the Associated Press wouldn’t have even bothered to corroborate even though it happened with eyewitness.

    The NBC article also has Mario on the defense insisting he didn’t initiate contact with the Hill, but rather he was invited to speak after a red bull show run near there piqued their interest.
    Even if I took this to be completely true, how does it explain why politicians he donates to started throwing their weight behind his cause, how did speaking on the hill turn into multiple letters from members and committees of Congress butchering the Sherman Act and regurgitating your talking points?
    Why did your son smirk on the topic of antitrust about three weeks before the Hill got involved

    I love everything about this, ugh, this is formula 1!!
    Just like the invitation that was never received and then nevermind it was in spam, I hope for a follow up. I’m camping at reddit today

    1. NBC reports that a source who agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity states that never happened.

      In political terminology, I think that is referred to a “misremembering”
      Normal people use a shorter word, starting with “L”

      Doesn’t F1 have a rule about conduct that brings F1 into disrepute?
      How would they punish an applicant that hadn’t yet stepped through the door of the “club”?

      I was actually sort of looking forward to the resubmitted application in 2026 for a grid start in 2028, with the Cadillac PU, now it may not happen simply because they were thrown out for bad behaviour before they even got in.

      1. reading that part was crazy
        I still want to know why Keith omitted it and rather chose to give a quick recap of Andretti’s recent hire and Congress newest letter.
        it’s not just some person too, the source was there and supposedly verifiably affiliated to Liberty
        here’s the exact excerpt

        Maffei and Liberty Media declined to comment. A source close to Liberty Media, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a private conversation, said the event occurred differently from how Andretti described it.

        “Andretti approached Greg at the breakfast to have a discussion with him,” the source said, adding that during the conversation Maffei indicated to Andretti that its application to join the grid in 2025 or 2026 had been rejected for good business reasons.

        again, Keith why isn’t this here, why did I have to hunt for this?
        this is a direct rebuttal to Mario’s words

        1. Why would Keith quote an anonymous source he has not been in contact with?
          This article came out before the NBC article I believe.

          1. Why would Keith quote an anonymous source he has not been in contact with?

            fair point, I’ll still stand on journalist standards obliging Keith to report that from the lens of fairness and transparency. “A source unverified by Racefans told NBC….” something like that you know

            This article came out before the NBC article I believe.

            no it did not.
            Keith’s article references NBC’s:

            “Mr Maffei, broke in the conversation and he said: ‘Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1,’” Andretti told NBC.

            pretty hard to reference an article that by your logic didn’t exist as of Keith’s writing.

            also the timeline doesn’t add up, Keith article was published 23rd May 2024, 8:59 GMT+1, NBC’s was May 23rd, 2024, 1:13 GMT+1 if my conversions are correct.

            Keith left this part out, that’s fine he’s human and I expect mistakes?, doesn’t stop me from calling them out.
            it’s not deeper than that, i promise

  9. I think the series is at the verge of making itself obsolete. A Saudi party is already looking into creation of an alternative series as I understand. Their aim is to create alternatives for both FIA and FOM/Liberty. Not sure what we’ll get when they call the shots but I am officially done with Liberty anyway, so let’s see. Attempts have been made before but it is clear the needle won’t move unless major car manufacturers commit.

    I understand that is exactly where this initiative is starting; persuading those CEO’s. Must be a long shot, but the angle is the right one imho and who knows.. these CEO’s tend to be lenient towards financial gains and the Saudi pockets are one of the deepest in the world. And both FIA and Liberty have ridiculed themselves and clearly demonstrated not being capable of honouring the sports legacy.

    1. Surely you jest.

      1. I dearly hope so
        turning your hopes to “a Saudi party” to control and salvage whatever you love about formula 1 and the fia has to be a joke – I need it to be a yoke!

        1. I agree there is a worrying part to this initiative indeed, but overall it is well needed. I don’t see a scenario in which Liberty will turn back on their current destructive course.. well at least until they sell the show..

  10. Yeah, it’s better to leave more traditional names like Stake and VCARB taking some of the precious 10 spots for life, right?

  11. Greg Maffei and Liberty Media, secretly troll these boards “repeatedly” to gage the reactions of the fans, about sprint races, Andretti, etc., etc. Yes, Greg Maffei will tell Mario Andretti, off to the side, to drop dead. But Greg Maffei also needs to answer questions here, on this website, and in the Senate, without ambushing the elder Mario Andretti, with very rude remarks about his son. This is unacceptable, and quite cowardly. Reading our comments, on this website, just to spy on the F1 fan base, is also unacceptable.

    1. If Mr Maffei is trolling this board, this is for you: Get you head out of your a$# and think. You can make money and still let Andretti/Cadillac on the grid in 2026. At the moment, you’re making Stefano Domenicali and FOM look like a bunch of idiots. This is still fixable. Fix it! But if you’re not willing to take good advice, then I sincerely hope the DOJ, US Congress, and the equivalent in the European Union stick it so far up your behind you never get it out.

    2. Well, if they troll this site, Mr. Maffei this is for you: It’s time to think about something other than how much money Liberty makes. There isn’t a sound business reason for rejecting the Andretti/Cadillac application already approved by FIA. F1 is better with Andretti/Cadilac on the grid in 2026.

      1. There isn’t a sound business reason for rejecting the Andretti/Cadillac application already approved by FIA.

        You mean no reason other than the bid provision the applicant provided states a GM PU that won’t be available until 2028 according to none other than GM ? Thus, the application to be on the grid before 2028 is suggested to be resubmitted for 2028.
        So, not actually a solid rejection, but a deferment.

        F1 is better with Andretti/Cadilac on the grid in 2026

        .

        In an alternate reality that might be possible, but in this one Cadillac badged GM PU’s won’t be available until 2028, which I suppose leaves us with an additional 2 years of Andretti playing the victim and generating situations where they could actually be removed from the grid for breaching the rules before they get through the door.

        I really do wish they would stop playing silly sods and get on with the job of providing a decent offering with a Cadillac PU to put on the grid in 2028.

        1. I’ll ask you again, SteveP – what ‘value’ do you think GM brings to F1 that Andretti’s race team doesn’t?
          And do you actually comprehend the dependence GM have on Andretti’s team already participating and developing in F1 in 2026, so as to cement the GM engine program thereafter?

          As for Andretti having an engine supplier in 2026 – yes, they do. Renault – one way or another.

  12. I’ve been a follower of F1 for over 50 years. If what Maffei said is true my days of following thus once great organization is over! I’ve been for the last few years recording the races and watching them afterwards, with the outcome never changing because of the strick and ridiculous rules teams must follow the outcome of the races is predictable. F1 has become a boring elitists competition. Maffei needs to go!
    GOODBYE F1!

  13. I cannot wait for the next GP in the USA, when Maffei is handed a subpoena to appear in Congress to explain why F1 Management won’t allow Andretti in.

  14. Dick Dawson
    23rd May 2024, 16:21

    This is why I torrent the racing this year, Liberty can blow goats if they think i’m paying for an elite club and not open racing. The rules clearly state two more teams are allowed and the FIA cleared Andretti to compete. All the rest of this is money hungry greedy people, who make their cash off of the fans, not giving a rats ass what the fans want.

  15. The U.S. Justice Department is already going after Greg Maffei for antitrust issues with Live Nation so it sounds like there’s a pattern of behavior here. This guy wants to cosplay being Bernie Ecclestone and he’s going to wind up out of job real soon.

  16. Konstantinos
    23rd May 2024, 17:38

    The only legitimate reason I have heard for Andretti to be denied is the idea that he could just be interested in getting in and then selling his team to make a profit but I do not have the brainpower required to figure out whether this theory makes any financial sense. Does anyone have any insight into this?

    1. Then they should be banning Williams too, considering that their current owner has such ambitions.

  17. Disgusting. And Liberty is disgusting as well. They’ve been for a long time. Luckily, the way global events happen, any upcoming big crisis could teach them a lesson about humility.

  18. I was hanging out with a group of friends who are post Drive to Survive F1 fans. This topic came up, of Andretti entering Formula 1. I was saying that I’d love to see such a historic name/team have a chance. Everyone else had never even heard the name ‘Andretti’ until this news of them trying to get a team popped up. The conversation then steered towards who they’d like to see on the grid. Common consensus: they’d like to see Apple have one. In their minds, tech companies should have teams instead of racing/automotive companies. I think this says a lot about the direction of the sport and who Liberty is trying to pander to, and why they have an ex-Microsoft guy running them.

    1. They could also have:

      – The “Mastercard F1 Team” (ex Lola, get them back)
      – a “Windows F1 team”
      – a “Google F1 team”
      – an “AI F1 team” with self-driving cars
      – an “IRS Tax Office F1 Team”, constantly crashing into everyone else but never getting penalized, and always being able to send the bill to all the other teams
      – and a full blown “Politics F1 Team”, preferably run by the EU Commission.

      Everybody now go “oooh” like the kids in the Peppa Pig cartoons. :)

      There could also be a “Protester F1 team” – permanent backmarkers, perpetually riled up about all the offensive AI-written press releases from the “AI F1 team”.

      The “VISA Cash App F1 team” and the “Stake(holder) F1 team” are already in place, so they can stay. Everyone else – out! McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes… out you go! Shoooo!

      ————————————————-
      Finally, I would like to recommend the song “I’m gonna miss her” by Brad Paisley. After 60 years, it describes my current relation to Formula One very well.

      “That water’s right, and the weather’s perfect…”
      “Looky there, I got a bite.”
      ————————————————-

      Tongue in cheek. Sort of. :)

  19. There is one thing more concerning than this story. There is a frightening number of people who lap this up as a truth without a single critical question.

    1. Greg Maffei is already a slimy character who is about to get into a huge fight with the U.S. Department of Justice over Live Nation. Then he sees Andretti talking to Congress about Liberty Media about putting another antitrust lawsuit on him. It’s not a big stretch of the imagination to believe Mario’s account of this story.

    2. That is right, we should definitely put more faith into the CEO’s of megacorps. Why wouldn’t you?

    3. Giving a CEO of this man’s history even the slightest benefit of the doubt is far more frightening than people accepting the quote at face value..:

      1. Not surprisingly, when you voice criticism on X you must therefore be against X. And be a Y supporter. And therefore the enemy. Internet logic. Which is also alarming.
        Common sense is truly something from the past I guess.

        If you read what he said, it is straight up slander punishable in court if you can’t back it up with evidence. It’s not just a quote. If you read it it should trigger an alarm bell. Don’t blindly go for your torch and pitchfork. And no, that doesn’t mean I am a Maffei supporter, or that I somehow don’t want Andretti to join either. And it is sad I have to add disclaimers like these

  20. Michael A.
    24th May 2024, 2:59

    I have been a Formula One enthusiast (not a ‘fan’) since 1950.

    Now, quickly approaching the age of 85, I believe that Formula One has become a foul mess. It is no longer a sport, I see it as a telling example of corporate greed.

    Sadly, it is the same situation with many other so-called sports.

    1. I could not agree more (as my post from yesterday will prove, see above in this thread).

      I’m 65 and my first vivid memory of something called Formula 1 was reading an article in 1964 at the age of five. There was a picture of Jim Clark and his green Lotus 25 with yellow stripes and I thought “Hey, I have that car!” (mine was a Matchbox diecast version). So I read the article (yes, I could read) and a life long interest followed.

      Back in those days I never saw any races – I just read about the races in car magazines at the local library, often two weeks after the event. We didn’t have a TV. These days, I’m back exactly where I started – I read the online reports long after the events. :)

      Lately I have come to the conclusion that Formula One is damaged beyond repair. The damage started for real when the television rights were sold off to FOCA in 1992, in line with the third Concorde “agreement”. That point is where Formula One began trying to serve two masters, and you can’t do that.

Comments are closed.