The FIA is reportedly set to reject the F1 applications of three prospective entries from the four 'Expression of Interest' that it has received, with Andretti Global the only entity expected to be given a green light by the governing body.
According to German website Motorsport-Total, the applications from the highly accomplished feeder series teams Hitech and Rodin Carlin, as well as from the Asian startup outfit LKYSUNZ, have all been dismissed.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has publicly backed Andretti's efforts to enter Formula 1, arguing that's its affiliation with General Motors through the latter's Cadillac brand warrants an entry into Grand Prix racing.
It is believed that all potential entrants have been notified by the FIA of their status before an official communication by the governing body.
If Andretti's entry is confirmed, it will then be submitted to F1 which will have the last word on the team's acceptance into its ranks.
But F1 CEO Stefano Domenciali has repeatedly said that he sees no necessity to add an 11th team to the sport's current field of contenders, given that this would only dilute the all-important prize money fund shared by the teams.
Andretti would be required to pay a $200 million anti-dilution fee for the privilege of competing among motorsport's elite, but despite the pay-in a majority of F1 teams remain opposed to the idea of expanding the grid.
On Friday, Asian candidate LKYSUNZ claimed that it would be prepared to pay a dilution fee of $600 million, thanks to a significant investment by a US-based investor.
But given that the FIA's deadline for potential entrants to submit their proposal has come and gone, LKYSUNZ upgraded offer was likely considered as dead on arrival by the FIA.
“We are still in dialogue with the FIA," said the team's CEO Benjamin Durand. "But I can’t go into details at the moment because we are bound by an NDA which we respect."
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