An entry course of opened by the FIA has been below means for a number of months, with Andretti the highest profile of the candidates that utilized to affix the grid in 2025 or 2026.
Paddock sources have advised that the American workforce’s bid is near passing step one, with affirmation of approval from the FIA anticipated as early as subsequent week.
If that occurs, the matter then goes to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali because the business rights holder for additional debate, a course of that’s anticipated to take a number of months.
Present groups have constantly expressed their opposition to a brand new entry because of the potential affect on their enterprise fashions.
Below the phrases of the present Concorde Settlement, negotiated through the COVID-hit 2020 season, any new entrant has to pay a $200m dilution charge.
Every present workforce would obtain $20m which is meant to signify any prize cash losses generated by the addition of an additional workforce.
Nonetheless, the $200m determine was informally influenced by the earlier price of shopping for a workforce – and particularly Williams, which was bought on the time.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23 leads at first
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Within the years since, values of groups have rocketed and the incumbents consider {that a} share of $200m is just not sufficient compensation.
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“I feel why F1 and the groups have survived within the final years is as a result of all of us caught collectively,” mentioned Mercedes boss Toto Wolff when requested by Autosport concerning the Andretti entry getting nearer to changing into a actuality.
“The FIA, FOM and the ten groups, we have to shield the game. We’re holding this delicate sport that is rising in the mean time in our arms.
“And that is why the correct choices must be taken all of us collectively, with regards to, to illustrate, a mindset after which clearly the FIA and F1 with regards to these choices, as a result of it is out of the groups’ arms.
“However I might hope that [FIA president] Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and Stefano will take the correct choices for F1.”
McLaren’s Zak Brown made it clear that he thinks that the compensation figures must be a matter for debate.
“I feel our view’s unchanged,” mentioned the American. “And we’re simply going to type of wait and see how the method performs out.
“I feel the one factor I might say is the worth of a F1 workforce and an entry from what it was 5 years in the past. The game is value considerably extra, so I feel that that component must be mentioned.”
Like Wolff, Haas’s Guenther Steiner mentioned he trusted F1 to make the proper calls.
“I am certain Stefano is aware of the way to take care of this in our greatest curiosity,” mentioned the Italian.
“We put our religion in FOM to take care of it, and as Zak mentioned groups are value now much more than we have been once we have been deciding the Concorde Settlement in 2020, the place some groups have been struggling to remain in enterprise, and have been value principally nothing. The market has modified.”
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Alfa workforce consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi additionally highlighted the monetary side.
“We expect that any new workforce should convey an added worth to all the F1 neighborhood,” he mentioned.
“And so it must be a strong undertaking, not only for a five-year interval, however it have to be a extremely long-term undertaking with a robust basis, and naturally, any new entry must recognise the worth and all of the investments which have been completed by the present groups.
“And as Zak and Toto point out, the price of the present groups has grown considerably prior to now few years. We have to shield our enterprise, however we depend on the FIA and FOM to take the correct choice.
“We might be able to welcome any new groups which have this type of attribute. However we’d like first to additionally perceive what’s the greatest for all the F1 neighborhood, with a long-term perspective.”