Guenther Steiner Reveals Why Andretti’s Bold Approach Was Destined to Fail

Who is America’s favorite F1 personality? Daniel Ricciardo? Lewis Hamilton? Toto Wolff or Christian Horner with their never-ending drama? No, it’s the Drive to Survive superstar Guenther Steiner. The former Haas Team Principal, who holds a US passport, has now come out to reveal why America’s beloved Andretti’s F1 approach was destined to fail. But what exactly did Guenther Steiner say? Did he reveal any insider information? Let’s see.

Michael Andretti has been trying with all his power to make sure Andretti Global makes it to the F1 Grid. A facility as big as Ferrari and a promise to bring in an American engine manufacturer in the form of Cadillac, all seemed viable for F1 to consider the offer. However, it all came crashing down after Formula 1 Management rejected Andretti’s appeal to enter the sport. 

Since then, Michael and Mario Andretti have been on a mission to make sure F1 justifies its actions and reconsiders the appeal. Even the Congress backed the Andretti family in the supposed fight with F1. Most recently, Andretti made another strong move by signing Pat Symonds, F1 and Williams’ former Chief Technical Officer. Yet, Guenther Steiner reveals that Andretti’s approach was doomed from the start.

Steiner blamed it on Andretti making everything public before even having confirmed an agreement with F1 and FIA. Explaining the same on the Red Flags podcast, Guenther Steiner said, “I don’t know the whole history, how it came along with Michael wanting to win but the first approach was public. When you want to enter something, you don’t enter public. You first agree, meet, and have dinner with the party. Because in the end, he wants to join a club. The club doesn’t want to join him. Nobody has asked him to join.”

Explaining how he made it work for Haas, he revealed, “I think you need to respect that. You guys don’t know how much groundwork I did before getting a license before they said yes. There were phone calls to everybody. Just explaining what we’re working on.” Steiner then explained how he requested Niki Lauda to set up meetings with Bernie Ecclestone and asked Stefano Domenicali to be present for the same as well. 

However, recently, Mario Andretti came out to reveal how in the presence of Stefano Domenicali, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei threatened to shut down Andretti.

Mario Andretti on Liberty Media CEO’s threat to shut Andretti’s F1 ambitions 

Questions have been asked from the F1 management regarding their decision to reject Andretti. And recently, some US lawmakers are believed to be getting involved in the scenario. Mario Andretti met with Stefano Domenicali at the Palm Club and as he explained his meeting with lawmakers in Washington, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei cut him off and threatened to end Andretti’s F1 dream. 

According to nbcnews.com, Mario Andretti said, “I was asked to go there. And just as I was trying to explain that to Stefano, Greg Maffei, Mr. Maffei broke into 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’. 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.”

What do you make of Andretti’s F1 appeal and F1 rejecting it? Let us know in the comments.