FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is holding onto hope for Andretti-Cadillac’s shot at Formula 1, even if Formula One Management (FOM) and their associated prize money are still up in the air. The FIA gave the thumbs up for Andretti Autosport and Cadillac to join the F1 lineup, but the real challenge now is getting a nod from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder.
Things aren’t looking too promising at the moment, with existing F1 teams and management seemingly not too keen on welcoming Andretti-Cadillac into the mix. Michael Andretti seems to be taking the opposition personally, and there’s some back-and-forth about issues like pit-lane space and, unsurprisingly, money – the age-old concern about sharing the prize pot.
But here’s the kicker – even if FOM doesn’t give the official thumbs up, Ben Sulayem says that won’t necessarily slam the door on Andretti-Cadillac competing in F1. The FIA has already given them the green light, though everyone’s crossing their fingers it won’t come to that.
Facing some pretty stern opposition from the existing teams, Andretti himself finds it a bit of a head-scratcher. He’s convinced that their entry could actually bring in more revenue for Formula 1, not snatch a piece of the pie away. Andretti is eyeing a spot on the grid in F1 for 2025, aiming to pair up an American racer with someone seasoned in the F1 scene. Fingers crossed for a smooth ride despite the bumps in the road.
