US Congress Demands Answers Over Andretti’s Rejected F1 Bid

Twelve members of US Congress are demanding answers from Formula 1’s parent company, Liberty Media, regarding the rejected bid of Andretti Global to join the grid. Led by Rep. John James, the bipartisan group of lawmakers accused the media conglomerate of engaging in ‘cartel-like behavior’ by blocking the Indiana-based team from entering the sport.

The FIA had approved Andretti’s entry last year, stating that they met all necessary criteria. However, Formula One Management, the commercial arm of F1, denied the team’s bid after consulting with the existing 10 teams on the grid, claiming that Andretti would not be competitive by 2025 or 2026.

Former F1 world champion Mario Andretti expressed his team’s readiness to join the grid in 2025, emphasizing their passion and resolve. He called on Liberty Media to give them the green light and allow them to showcase their capabilities in the sport.

Rep. John James raised concerns about Liberty Media potentially delaying Andretti’s entry as a ‘cash grab’ to extract more money from the team in the future. He emphasized the commitment shown by Andretti-Cadillac in preparing for F1 standards and expressed hope for a resolution that benefits both parties.

As F1 gears up for the Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium this weekend, the spotlight remains on the controversy surrounding Andretti Global’s rejected bid and the demands for transparency and fairness from US lawmakers.