Mario Andretti hits back after Liberty Media snub

Mario Andretti confirmed that Andretti Global is steadfast in its effort to join Formula One by 2026, despite a contentious confrontation with Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei. The conflict surfaced during the Miami Grand Prix, casting a spotlight on the intricate politics within F1’s commercial landscape.

The ambitions of Andretti Global to secure a spot in the Formula One grid by 2026 encountered renewed scrutiny following an intensive disagreement between its patriarch, Mario Andretti, and Liberty Media’s CEO, Greg Maffei.

This development is crucial as it might significantly shift the Formula One landscape, especially in North America, where the sport’s management is eager to increase its footprint. With the involvement of the American team, a storied name in automotive racing, and its collaboration with General Motors under the Cadillac brand, the potential entry of Andretti Global could reshape fan engagement in significant ways.

The FIA gave its nod to Andretti’s entry proposal in October last year. However, Formula One Management (FOM) has since expressed reservations, hinting at a potential reconsideration for 2028. Amidst these deliberations, a disturbance unfolded during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, wherein Andretti and Maffei’s disagreement came to light. This public spat revealed the deep-seated tensions between the aspiring team and current F1 leadership. Andretti conveyed his shock and disappointment in the face of Maffei’s opposition, describing it as a personal and disheartening barrier to their F1 ambitions.

Mario Andretti revealed to NBC News:

“I was asked to go there. And just as I was trying to explain that to Stefano [Domenicali – F1 CEO], 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 [Andretti] never enters Formula 1.’

“I could not believe that. 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.”

On the technical front, Andretti’s partnership with General Motors aims at developing a competitive power unit under the Cadillac marque. Despite the challenges, Andretti Global continues to push ahead, determined to meet the commercial and technical prerequisites defined by FOM. During an interview with The Athletic, Andretti commented:

“Well, what keeps me optimistic is we’re doing everything that is asked of us. On the other side, on the commercial side, it’s been a bit foggy. We’ve been told the decision was not final, but then tell us what will make the decision for us to enter. But to show good faith, the team and Michael have been investing millions and millions of dollars, which is what it takes to form the team. And once we get a green light, we won’t start from scratch. The objective is to be on the grid in 2026.”

Andretti Global continues with its push to join the Formula One grid in 2026, however, approval from FOM is still required.