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Domenicali clearly resisting Andretti's F1 entry

NEWS STORY
25/08/2022

With the sport seemingly leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to attract new fans, thereby boosting its popularity, commercial appeal and profits, one would have thought that with an American media company at the wheel the one thing missing was a 'home grown' home team and driver.

Despite McLaren's activity in the driver market an American driver still appears a way off, however in terms of a 'home' team the sport appears unusually ambivalent, almost hostile to the idea.

Michael Andretti has made no secret of his desire to enter F1, indeed he claims to even have an engine deal in place for his joining the grid in 2024, yet the American is unable to get the green light.

While a number of teams, most notably Mercedes, have raised their objections, speaking to the media ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, F1 boss, Stefano Domenicali appeared openly hostile to the Andretti bid.

"It's a matter of understanding not only the ones that have a bigger or louder voice, there will be others," he said of prospective new entries to the sport. "Andretti was quite vocal about his request, but there are others that are saying in a different way.

"Mario, I know him very, very well, since a long time," the Italian continued, "he's trying to present his idea in a way that he thought is the right way to do, but I believe there is a governance in place, and the decision has to follow the protocol that is in place.

"Mario is very vocal, Michael too," he added, "and I spoke with them quite often, as you can imagine, and we need to respect that. We may have different opinions.

"The evaluation is not only with Andretti, the evaluation is with others that are respecting the silence or trying to be more productive on approving who they are, and respecting the protocol we have put in place.

"I do believe there are more teams that will give more value to the championship," he continued, "but there is a protocol that has to be fulfilled and everyone, Andretti included, is following that.

"Today we are talking about the new regulations 2026 and all the manufacturers involved in that, incumbent or maybe the new one, are saying that the time is running very quickly, four years to do another power unit, we need to be prudent.

"When we're talking about Formula 1, we need to have an entity or a team or a manufacturer that is really solid, that is really strong and has a full commitment for an incredibly long time. Today, I don't see honestly the need of that increase to have a big value for the sport of Formula 1."

While the sport awaits news on Porsche and Audi entering, a decision that rested entirely on whether they agreed with the 2026 rules, Honda, which only announced its withdrawal from F1 in October 2020 is already talking about returning.

As Domenicali well knows, while Ferrari has only missed 16 races since the inception of the Formula One World Championship in 1950, manufacturers have come and gone willy-nilly, just think Renault, and despite the Drive to Survive boom the sport would do well to remember that bust usually follows.

Though F1 doesn't officially operate as a franchise-based sport, many now see it that way, and to that end, Domenicali believes that rather than entering as 'start ups' potential new teams should consider purchasing existing operations.

"It's the same situation of the Grands Prix," he said, "there are more people that want to enter, by far, than people that want to leave.

"Formula 1 today requires an incredible level of professionality and investments," he added, "not only for one year but for long term. Because there is a lot of interest from a lot of manufacturers, but also a lot of teams, the actual one can discuss and commercialise and negotiate with them if they feel they are weak or if they feel they have no future.

"So I think it's another value for the ones who are here already, knowing that around them are manufacturers or other teams that want to be in the business. It's a fact that, in my opinion, will reinforce the value of Formula 1."

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Mortulmo, 26/08/2022 14:51

"Domenicalli was a lousy boss at Ferrari and now is selling out the whole sport. Get rid of classic tracks in favor of garbage like Miami? F1 has lost it's soul. Now it's just a Corporate advertising arm. Laughing off the Andretti bid ....and the insulting comments. Please ask perennial back-marker Vasseur just what value His teams adds ???? Not real race teams...just in it to collect money. Great drivers for sure . but the races are mostly boring and if by chance there is a pass accomplished without some gimmick wing it becomes major news until the next race. Please spare me...Senna, Shumacher the greats could pass without gimmicks. F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport only in their own minds. F1 is seriously a joke. This is it,I'm out !!"

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2. Posted by Abies, 26/08/2022 10:14

"Domenicali Need to Go asap !!!!!!!!!!"

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3. Posted by Spindoctor, 26/08/2022 9:31

"@kenji ... and I suppose it was Wolff who made Putin invade Ukraine too....."

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4. Posted by kenji, 26/08/2022 1:06

"Just how much influence has Wolff brought to this issue? His dissent rings loudest..IMO."

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5. Posted by Chester, 26/08/2022 0:20

"If Andretti cannot enter, then who can? Is the only way in to purchase another team? Too bad Elon Musk produces EV's. He'd be the perfect guy to buy Williams and make it Andretti (As much as I revere Williams, Sir Frank is gone.)"

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6. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 25/08/2022 17:48

"@Defiant - interesting idea. But if they have lots of Indy car experience (as Andretti obviously does) shouldn't that count just as much as, say, F2 or Formula E, or WEC, or whatever categories you propose? Not quite as applicable as F2 perhaps, but probably more applicable than WEC or F-E."

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7. Posted by Lapps, 25/08/2022 16:47

"I was always a fan of Steph. But he really does seem to have sold his soul. He drones on about the need for any new Team to have experience, financial backing and engineering skills; and in the very same sentence excludes the (potential) Team best equipped with those assets. In the same week he announces that ‘history’ is not important when it comes to Track selection, without, of course, admitting that cash is the real (only) criterion.

As Max says something, as yet unseen, is afoot. One can only hope that the parallels with Game of Thrones continues and heads soon roll in copious quantities.. "

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8. Posted by Defiant, 25/08/2022 16:45

"This could be an interesting idea. Stealing it from football.

How about any new teams having to join by entering into a lower formula, then working their way up to F1.

Maybe the top 2 teams in each formula at the end of the year get to choose to move up or not (in turn obviously), then if they both choose not to move up team 3 can buy the move from those teams by paying each of them 50% of a set price. Any teams lower than 3rd in each lower category shouldn't be accepted as "ready to move up'"

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9. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 25/08/2022 14:34

"If, ultimately, the decision rests with Ben Sulayem, maybe this is another opportunity for him to show his teeth. But Andretti jr. didn't make many friends during his short tenure at McLaren. Unlike his father, he didn't bother to base himself in UK/Europe, and showed few signs of being on the pace. Memories like that don't fade quickly. Whilst I don't particularly like Domenicali's somewhat insular and almost arrogant attitude, as far as an Andretti entry is concerned, I fear their participation, should they be accepted by the FIA, could be unsuccessful, and, consequently, short-lived.

One thing that is a great shame - tragedy, even, is that Jeff Gordon never made the transfer to F1 when at his best - he could very well have followed in Hill and (Mario) Andretti's footsteps as an F1 Champion - his test at Williams certainly suggested that, it only being his contractual commitments within Nascar that precluded the move until it would have been too late."

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10. Posted by ancient70!, 25/08/2022 13:48

"Can someone explain to me the birth of the FAN.? I have a theory, it happened the day Colin Chapman stuck a gold leaf cigarette package on his Lotus 49. Previously we had motorsport enthusiasts, now we have eyes on product, ditto FANS. Yes I know we will never go back to cars painted in national colours, that is fine by me. But if anyone thinks the current F1 organisation/owners will do anything to improve motor racing, they are truly delusional! "

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11. Posted by Max Noble, 25/08/2022 11:26

"There is a deep “Game of Thrones” river of politics here that we are all missing…"

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12. Posted by Pawsche, 25/08/2022 11:03

"If they want to keep F1 as a nice cozy little cartel, then fine... If they just want to limit the number of cars racing to 20, what's wrong with pre-qualifying?"

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13. Posted by Malemoi, 25/08/2022 11:01

"FIA is turning FI into an over regulated circus. As an aside if SPA goes so do I after 53 years of being a fan "

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