The world is with Andretti. After F1 rejected them, terming them ‘uncompetitive’, various experts and analysts questioned the sport’s questionable decision. The matter escalated so quickly that even the US Congress got involved, demanding an explanation for why F1 and Liberty Media’s chiefs rejected the American team. However, Guenther Steiner, who led Haas, an American team for 10 years, isn’t on board the criticism train.

Andretti partnered with General Motors (Cadillac) to apply for an F1 entry in 2025 or 2026. But the pinnacle of motorsport didn’t find them adding any “value” to the current grid. In April, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, accused F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei of “anticompetitive conduct” by rejecting the two American giants from entering F1 as a team. He demanded documents and communications about the evaluation process as well.

Steiner believes that though F1’s 10 teams are well set now, in the past, the situation was very volatile, with teams turning insolvent. So F1’s cautious approach with Andretti is justified. “We all have been there in the tough times where it was difficult to bring 10 teams to the grid because there was not enough money around to go around,” Steiner said on the Formula for Success podcast. “I think F1 is just protecting the well-being of the 10 existing teams. That is how I see it.” 

“F1 hasn’t closed the doors on Andretti,” he further added. “They said in 28, when GM is ready, come back. The door is not shut, they left it open, they didn’t lock it. So I think sometimes you need to be patient. When I went out to find an investor, it took me three years to find somebody. You keep on lobbying, you keep on trying to do your best and you get there. And maybe that is what they need to do at the moment.”

Steiner’s comments shine a fair light on F1’s uncertain past that might have prevented Andretti’s entry. But Mario Andretti, father of Michael Andretti (the F1 team’s owner), has made a shocking revelation which indicates personal bias causing the rejection.

Mario Andretti exposes Liberty Media CEO’s ‘bullet to the heart’

Mario Andretti has been critical of Formula One Management’s decision to unfairly reject their bid. It was he who also supported the demand for an investigation by the US Congress into the matter. Surprisingly, the American had good reason to do so, and it goes back to a private F1 event in Miami.

“I was asked to go there (private Miami event),” Mario said, as quoted by GPfans. “And just as I was trying to explain [our plans] to Stefano [Domenicali], Greg Maffei, broke into the conversation and 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,” the 84-year-old remarked after revealing the startling details. “That one really floored me. We’re talking about business. I didn’t know it was something so personal. I could not believe it. It was just like a bullet through my heart.”

If this admission is true, the US Congress’ investigation could bring out F1’s dirty laundry. Nonetheless, Andretti will only get their next chance at presenting a better proposal in 2028. Till then, any dramatic plot twists would remain plot twists.