F1 Rumour: General Motors Urged To Part Ways With Andretti Cadillac By Formula One To Aid Grid Entry
As Andretti Cadillac awaits confirmation from Formula 1 and its teams to enter the grid, F1 has supposedly asked General Motors to consider a different partner apart from Andretti, in the hope that the automobile giant would be keen to join hands with one of the existing teams on the grid.
The FIA has officially approved the entry of Andretti Cadillac into Formula 1. However, a financial check remains to be done by F1 and the teams to ensure the new entrant is bringing in a significant amount of value to the sport.
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Andretti Autosport and GM partnered to form the new F1 team called Andretti Cadillac. But, according to a report by AP News, F1 has approached GM with the expectation that it would partner with one of the existing teams on the grid as a way to enter Formula 1, and not just remain a partner with Andretti Autosport.
Andretti Press Image
This could be seen as a direct move from the F1 stable to create a rift between GM and Andretti by adding another team into the equation. On the other hand, without GM, Andretti would be unable to join independently as the 11th team since F1 could potentially argue that the American outfit does not have the financial backing to increase the value of the sport without GM.
"It Is Only About The Money"
The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem revealed that Andretti thinks F1's resistance to the new addition is being done on personal grounds- an idea that he agrees with as well. Offering his insight, he revealed:
“It’s about the money. It’s only about the money.
"That’s what’s personal. They don’t want to share the money.”
Two team bosses have openly expressed their views stating that there is no grudge intended toward Andretti. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has always been against the addition of an 11th team. He said:
“I don’t know him [Michael Andretti].
"I mean, he’s one of the great names of the sport. And I think Andretti, as a racing team, has been doing well in the United States.
"There’s no grudge. If you haven’t really met someone, you can’t have a personal grudge.”
But, Andretti claimed he met Wolff during last year's Miami Grand Prix when he approached all the teams to seek their support. Mario Andretti supposedly spent about an hour inside the Mercedes hospitality with the team boss. Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, who has always been against the idea of a new team also said that there was "nothing personal" against Andretti.
Mercedes Press Image
The other two teams who were approached seemed to be 'Pro Andretti'. McLaren CEO Zak Brown hosted the Andretti group at McLaren all weekend. The team also does business with the American outfit. In addition, Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack worked for Andretti in Formula E and hence, he does not seem to have anything against the new outfit.
Three different sources with inside knowledge of the situation who were approached confirmed that F1 indeed asked GM if it would partner with an outfit other than Andretti. Consequently, Andretti could make a case that F1 is keeping him at bay from the premier class on personal grounds in a court of law.
