After US Congress Gets Involved, Ex-Ferrari Boss Reveals Why Letter to F1 Is Not the Solution to the Andretti Saga

The Andretti F1 saga continues to take new twists and turns. The FIA’s rejection of Michael Andretti’s ‘uncompetitive’ team caused a stir in the F1 community. After the Miami GP concluded, American politician Jim Jordan sent a stern letter to the CEOs of Liberty Media and the Formula One Group, demanding an explanation for Andretti’s rejection. Former Ferrari manager Peter Windsor, however, believes that the US Congressman’s letter might amount to nothing.

As per NBC, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has accused F1’s chiefs of delaying the American team’s entry. He claims this would “harm American consumers to benefit failing Formula One teams.” Jordan also emphasized how limiting the number of teams would increase the cost of sponsoring or buying into an existing team.

Stating his opinion on this matter, Peter Windsor explained how this investigation would not end in Jordan’s favor. “I don’t think Jim Jordan is going to have… he’s going to have a difficult job,” Windsor said in his YouTube Live. “The fact that Liberty Media is an American company – it may have some effect on them. But they have done all they can to try to get Andretti in. The teams have already created enough brick walls to make sure that’s not gonna happen in the short term.”

The current 10 F1 teams hadn’t approved of Andretti’s entry because it would dilute their prize money share in the championship. General Motors, on the other hand, which is partnering up with the American team, has backed them despite the major setback.

General Motors wholeheartedly backs Andretti despite F1 rejection

On January 5, 2024, American manufacturer General Motors announced their F1 partnership with Andretti. They would be represented by their Cadillac brand if F1 approved their entry. Though F1 and the FIA rejected their bid, GM has cemented their Andretti partnership with a strong statement.

“We made the statement from a technical point of view that we are committed to it and we will not let it fail,” GM’s motorsport executive Eric Warren told The New York Times. “Our company races, and has raced successfully, in every race series we compete in. Anyone who looks will see that. There are many high-level, experienced F1 personnel consistently at our door. They see what we’re doing.”

Warren also emphasized how they aren’t underestimating the F1 challenge with Michael Andretti & Co. “We owe it to our fans and the two brands to bring something unique to them,” he added.

Andretti’s rejection is costing F1’s chiefs their peace of mind. With the involvement of the US Congress, the pressure on people who run the pinnacle of motorsport has increased multifold. Can this help the American car manufacturers get a grid spot earlier than 2028?