Andretti’s strong response to Formula 1’s rejection has sparked new inquiries while also offering explanations.
Andretti has issued a fresh statement, two days after F1’s commercial rights holder officially denied its entry into the F1 grid for either 2025 or 2026. This decision came months after the FIA approved Andretti’s application.
Initially, Andretti expressed strong disagreement with F1’s decision and affirmed its commitment to continue developing its F1 car.
Now, in its latest statement, Andretti specifically addresses two points raised by F1 in their rejection.
It challenges the idea that Andretti was still considering a 2025 entry, which F1 suggested was too ambitious for them to be competitive. Andretti also denies avoiding a meeting with F1 management.
Andretti concludes its statement by stating that their work continues at a rapid pace.
According to the Associated Press, Andretti claims that F1’s meeting offer was overlooked and ended up in their email spam folder.
Regardless of the accuracy of this claim, it further complicates the already tense public dispute between Andretti and F1.
Andretti Cadillac’s clarifications regarding F1’s reasoning are significant, but they do not provide complete clarity.
Initially, it seems strange that Andretti was unaware of F1’s offer for a face-to-face meeting. F1 would not fabricate such information in a formal statement due to potential legal consequences. Therefore, it is likely that the offer was indeed made.
If Andretti genuinely missed the invitation because it was in their email spam folder, it removes doubt about their conduct. Simply rejecting F1’s invitation would have reflected poorly on Andretti.
It is unclear whether Andretti attempted to arrange another meeting once they realized the email issue. Their current request for a meeting lends credibility to the idea that they were unaware of the initial offer.
In addition to the email mishap, Andretti’s other point is significant – they are preparing for 2026, not 2025.
It is peculiar that this was not mentioned during the information exchange with F1 regarding their application. F1 operated under the belief that Andretti’s focus was solely on 2025, which influenced their rejection.
F1 expressed strong concerns about Andretti building one car for 2025 and a completely different one for the new rules in 2026. They questioned Andretti’s understanding of the challenges involved.
If Andretti Cadillac truly has been planning for a 2026 entry for several months, as they claim, it weakens a crucial aspect of F1’s rationale.
However, it is worth noting that Michael Andretti stated emphatically in October of last year that they were still aiming for 2025. It is possible that they shifted their focus to 2026 shortly after that statement.
To resolve this discrepancy, Andretti could seek clarification from F1 during the requested in-person meeting.
While Andretti has valid concerns regarding F1’s rejection, addressing F1’s statement in this manner has raised new questions and provided some answers.