Domenicali criticises Andretti's 'shouty' approach to F1 bid

Formula 1's CEO Stefano Domenicali has criticised the approach taken by Andretti Global in its bid to become the 11th team on the FR1 grid.

Domenicali said that Michael Andretti's comments in support of the bid had not been 'smart' and risked alienating the existing teams, making it harder to mount a successful application.

The FIA has opened a new process for new teams wanting to join F1 in 2025, 2026 or 2027, with the governing body's president Mohammed Ben Sulayem speaking out in favour of bids from Andretti and other parties.

• Read also: Domenicali: insists that F1 'will never put a gag on anyone'

But existing team bosses have been markedly cooler to the idea, citing concerns over how much value Andretti would bring and the dilution of prize money despite the requirement that new teams pay a $200 million fee on entry.

Now Domenicali has added his voice to the criticism of Andretti's approach in particular, while keeping the door open to all expressions of interest.

"I think that the process that will be done seriously in the right way," he said. “If all the elements are there, they will be very welcome [but] there are a lot of dimensions to consider.

“We don’t have to overreact because someone is pushing the system,” he told Sky Sports F1 this week, adding that the sport was “very welcoming of everyone that is bringing value to the racing”.

“We need to take action because I believe that today what is more vital is to protect the growth of the sport and also the sustainability of the teams that have invested in Formula 1 in the times where things were different.

"The value of that investment today for the pure commercial point of view is much more different than was just couple of years ago.

"No one can put that with the anxiety to take the right decision because someone is shouting and some other less shouting.

“We need to respect everyone. There are teams like Mario and Michael Andretti being very vocal about their will to enter F1, but in my view were not smart to say that teams are greedy to protect themselves. But that’s my opinion.

“There are others that are much less vocal that would like to come into Formula 1, so there is a process to respect and we will make sure together with the FIA that the process will be respected.”

Andretti has been pushing for a spot on the F1 grid since early last year, having been unsuccessful in his efforts to partner with or take over an existing team like McLaren, Aston Martin or Alfa Romeo.

After the FIA confirmed a new application process, Andretti announced that it had strengthened its bid by entering into a deal with General Motors subsidiary Cadillac.

The Andretti operation - which already competes in IndyCar, Formula E, Extreme E and IMSA - has started construction on a new $200m headquarters in Indianapolis in readiness for taking part in F1.

While the FIA is running the application process, Formula 1 and the current teams must also agree to any new teams joining the championship.

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