For quite some time, US motorsport legend Michael Andretti has been looking to make his way into F1. But he has been constantly presented with obstacles. However, an insider claims that FIA has no right to refuse his entry.
To begin with, Andretti tried to purchase the Sauber F1 team last year but it collapsed as the two parties could not agree on some terms of the agreement.
Andretti was then told to bring in a major manufacturer so as to enter the pinnacle of motorsport and he did. He secured a partnership with General Motors’ luxury brand Cadillac but still, some big teams are sceptical about it.
Some F1 teams are doubtful about the return that the addition of a new team would bring. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted that he doesn’t want his profit to be reduced by a new team.
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FIA has no right to deny the entry
An expert of the FIA told BusinessF1 that the official entry of a team is entirely separate from the commercial arrangements.
This means that Andretti first gets the entry and then negotiates the commercial aspects with the Formula 1 Group.
Only after that, the F1G is allowed to continue any sort of commercial negotiations with the team. And only then do they have the right to refuse entry to the race.
In his opinion, the FIA is risking potential legal action by denying Andretti’s entry.
For the life of me, I still cannot understand why F1 teams are not “all in” on an Andretti-Cadillac entry.
In 2020, regarding the new $200m entry fee, Zak Brown was quoted as saying:#F1 pic.twitter.com/uheRhGgjpw
— Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) January 12, 2023
Andretti-Cadillac asked to pay $500 Million to enter
Originally, the Concorde Agreement states that a new entrant is required to pay a sum of $200 Million for their entry.
But as per a report by BBC, Andretti and Cadillac have been asked to pay more than $500-600 Million to get an entry.
So far the conditions that have been put in front of the Andretti-Cadillac have been met. Still, they are being presented with everything that will lead them to either withdraw the application or take legal action.
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