Andretti Lands in Hot Water as F1 Faces Calls to Avoid ‘Emotionally’ Letting In Legacy Teams

The recent announcement of Andretti’s bid to join Formula 1 has stirred a whirlwind of skepticism within the racing community, with veteran commentator Martin Brundle expressing his doubts about the team’s potential competitiveness. Brundle, known for his insightful analysis, pointed out that despite the illustrious Andretti name, there are no guarantees that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.

The concerns raised by Brundle have ignited a debate on whether F1 should place restrictions on new entrants perceived as legacies, teams with a well-established history in other forms of motorsport. The F1 pundit argues that joining the elite F1 club should require more than just a famous name. The question is: Does Andretti have what it takes to be competitive in F1, to add value to the sport?

Is Andretti fit for an entry into F1?

Earlier this year, Andretti Global – under the leadership of Michael Andretti – made a ‘true American bid’ to become the 11th team in F1. In October, the FIA gave it the green flag, bringing it one step closer to its dream. But now, the team faces the most significant hurdle: convincing F1 and the FOM that it will add value to the sport, just like it has done in series like IndyCar and Formula E. Now that the 2023 season is over, it’s allowed pundits like Martin Brundle to analyze the Andretti situation. In a Sky Sports F1 Q&A, Brundle gave his thoughts.

As quoted by Express, Brundle said, “Andretti is a great name, but on the other side of the coin, they’ve never really built their own car, they haven’t really dominated IndyCar in recent years, or any of the other categories. So it’s not given that just because it’s called Andretti, it’ll be competitive.” The Brit emphasized the need for a credible track record in building and fielding competitive cars. He highlighted that F1 has evolved over decades, with teams investing substantial money, time, and expertise to establish themselves as contenders.

The debate now centers around whether Formula 1 should implement stricter criteria for new entrants, especially those like Andretti, who’ve never built a car all on their own. Brundle urged the stakeholders to assess Andretti’s bid objectively, considering their ability to assemble a competitive team rather than relying solely on the emotional appeal of the iconic Andretti name.

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“I think you have to look at it and say it’s team A from America. Can they put together a credible competition on the grid, and what do they bring to F1?” That’s the question F1 and FOM will ponder over the next few months. “I think you have to lose the emotion of the Andretti name, and take a rational decision. But I would like to see more cars on the grid,” concluded Brundle. Even though he’s not sure about Andretti joining the sport, he’s not opposed to the idea. And a few drivers are with him on that.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are in support of Andretti’s Entry

Unlike the business-minded team principals of F1, the drivers are much more welcoming of the potential new entrants into the sport. For the drivers, a new entrant means two more seats, hundreds of new jobs, and potentially a spot for a female F1 driver to come through the ranks.

“I think it’s great. I think [in] Formula 1, I’ve always felt that there weren’t enough cars on the grid,” Lewis Hamilton told the media. “There’ll definitely be people that won’t be happy for me to be so supportive of it, but I think it’s great. It’s an opportunity for more jobs. It’s another two seats available for a potential female driver to come through. It opens up more possibilities, and I think it will be more exciting.” While Hamilton and Max Verstappen may not see eye to eye on many things, this isn’t one of them.

Max Verstappen expressed that he understood the different teams’ perspectives. “It’s always very hard for me to comment on these kinds of things because I’m not a team owner, I’m a racing driver,” said the Red Bull driver. “Of course, in terms of competition, it would probably be a nice thing. That’s why it’s very hard to understand, from what I’ve seen and heard, it looks very professional, and they want to come in, and, of course, with the Andretti name, they are a big name.”

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The Andretti name might be a huge boon to the F1 community, especially if it brings in more American fans. However, the rest is up to F1, FOM, and the FIA to decide.