Liberty Media CEO, Greg Maffei is said to have told Mario Andretti that he would do everything in his power to ensure his team never lines up on F1 grid.

The long-running saga over the American team's proposed entry took a new twist as it was claimed by 1978 world champion, Mario Andretti that Greg Maffei, the CEO of F1's owners, Liberty Media, had made clear that he would personally block the team's bid.

Over the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Mario attended an invitation only event at the Palm Club where he met F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, who asked the 1978 world champion about his visit to Washington where he had been invited to speak about his son's team bid to enter the sport outside the Capitol.

"I was asked to go there," Andretti told NBC. "And just as I was trying to explain that to Stefano, Greg Maffei, Mr. Maffei, broke in the conversation and he said: 'Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1,'" he added, referring to his son, Michael Andretti.

"I could not believe that," admitted Mario. "That one really floored me. We're talking about business. I didn't know it was something so personal. That was really... oh, my goodness. I could not believe it. It was just like a bullet through my heart."

However, according to NBC, a source said to be close to Liberty Media, gave a different version of events.

"Andretti approached Greg at the breakfast to have a discussion with him," said the source, who demanded anonymity, and added that Maffei had told Andretti that the application to enter F1 in 2025 or 2026 had been rejected "for good business reasons".

In recent weeks the saga has taken on new significance with the House Judiciary Committee opening an inquiry, while group of senators is calling on the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to launch an antitrust investigation into what they claim anti-competitive practices aimed at protecting the (mostly) European teams from American competition.

Such a move was always going to antagonise F1 and its owners, but Andretti insists that he did not raise the issue in Washington and that in fact it was they who approached him after a recent demo run in the capital by Red Bull sparked their interest in the sport.

"I did not initiate that," he insisted.

Whatever the truth of the Miami encounter, or the outcome of the lawmakers inquiries, Andretti is still hopeful that the situation can be resolved.

"We're bringing something of value," he said. "It's a big investment in the sport that we love or sport that's our job and our passion. It's a long-term commitment. We've done everything that needs to be accomplished, needs to be done to earn a spot in Formula 1. What else do you want us to do?"

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by rnorm, 25/05/2024 12:46

"Christian Horner claims they can't let Andretti/Cadillac on the grid because the F1 business model won't allow it. In other words, because F1 has to financially babysit the back markers because the top teams won't allow F1 to spread the wealth in an intelligent way, and as a result causes noncompetitive behavior, Andretti/Cadillac has to be excluded. "

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2. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 24/05/2024 16:34

"Ticketmaster and Liberty are easy wins the DOJ with populist support."

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3. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 24/05/2024 16:16

"If there is a regime change in November, the heat will really be on Liberty. Andretti's are a symbol of American greatness.

The former president is a big Andretti fan and I'll leave it at that."

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4. Posted by Burton, 24/05/2024 12:40

"@Max Noble
And their reply to the DoJ charges is amazingly even more dishonest than the one refusing Andretti's entry. Truly a crassy bunch."

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5. Posted by Max Noble, 24/05/2024 8:57

"@Burton - I’ve been following that saga with interest given my love of live music… Basically any band capable of pulling more than 500 fans here in Australia is 99.75% likely to be run via Live Nation/TicketMaster… and the experience is not for the fans…!

Liberty Media are in it for the money… So fascinated to see who has the better connections within congress. As the old joke goes… “America has the best government money can buy…”

"

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6. Posted by BillH, 24/05/2024 8:40

"Sources close to ... say ... has never really cut it with me, especially when the opposing view isn't anonymous."

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7. Posted by kenji, 24/05/2024 8:33

"If Maffei did in fact issue that warning to Mario Andretti it proves one very important fact,,,,Maffei/Liberty have had their cage rattled and that can only be a good sign. These large US corps. fight dirty when ever they get singled out for more intense scrutiny. Go Mario, build your carts and lets go racing."

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8. Posted by Burton, 23/05/2024 23:56

"Live Nation/Ticketmaster, one of Liberty's companies also chaired by Greg Maffei, is already being sued by the US of A's Justice Department for antitrust stuff, so none of this is surprising, sadly. Arrogant, recurring behaviour."

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9. Posted by Alex_V10_USA, 23/05/2024 15:26

"Well the rhetoric is sure heating up. I wonder what this all looks like when the dust settles... sure hope there's an Andretti car on the grid sooner than later."

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10. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 23/05/2024 15:23

"In a "he said, she said" scenario I tend to be skeptical of the different accounts of what went down. Stefano could clarify what was really said since he's the common thread in both tales but Liberty have his soul in a jar sitting on top of a fire place at one of John Malone's ranches, so that won't be happening.

I lean more towards Mario's account, it might be a bit exaggerated, but he's gone on record with it. This strongly anonymous source is less trust worthy. Why be anonymous? If you're defending your employer your job wouldn't be in danger, unless of course, this source has no business getting into the mix at all and if people knew they were involved in it, it would cause a further sh*t storm of controversy and outrage. Hence the strong insistence of anonymity. So, by that reasoning I'll assume its probably Toto Wolff who is the source. He is, after all, the Grima Wormtongue of F1.

Another reason I lean towards Mario's account is because Maffei looks like the type of c*nt who would power-harass his staff and talk down to "the help". So a sh*tbag getting his heckles up and rage out wouldn't surprise me. I'll assume these "business reasons" mentioned is blocking Andretti for 2026 and then surprise, surprise after having another look over the papers they'll be allowed in for 2028 when the new concord agreement is in place and the entry fee and team dilution fee has ballooned to nearly a billion dollars for new teams. "

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11. Posted by Anthony, 23/05/2024 14:50

"Hmm… Over the last 30 years John Malone has built Liberty into a very large corporation - 2023 revenues of $9bn. I doubt whether he could have achieved this without very good political instincts.

In a regulatory investigation of US interests vs European interests I would put my money on the US interests. However, if the investigation is large US media business vs smaller US motorsports business, I think I might put my money on the media business…. "

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12. Posted by kenji, 23/05/2024 14:16

"@KKK....I am hoping that Liberty stay well away from running MotoGP, the series. They currently stage the most exciting and competetive motor racing available....we don't want Liberty to inject all their plastic pizzaz into what's a great bike racing series."

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13. Posted by jcr, 23/05/2024 14:12

"According to Mario, Stefano, who was party to the comments, is notable for his silence, one way or the other ! As regards Liberty person remaining anonymous !! Why ??"

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14. Posted by kenji, 23/05/2024 14:09

"Someone's telling porkies here!!! How unusual. If Mario has made all this up then surely once it breaks publically Andretti will get a flogging. Apparently Domenicali would've been a witness but will he back his boss or Mario? I know where my money will go even if Mario's story is true. The original Maffei family name/clan are from the Tuscan region whereas the Andretti family name and clan boast Venetian origin. The Venetians, for a great period in time, ruled the world of commerce....go Mario."

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15. Posted by KKK, 23/05/2024 13:48

"How can I put it ? Simple. Media Liberty are out of their depth. They have wrecked F1 and now that a new team wants to come in and show they are better than at least 3 current teams they block it. I thought America is a democratic country. They should sell F1 up and go wreck MotoGp !"

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Mario Andretti claims Liberty CEO personally threatened to block team's F1 entry

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