Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle has expressed his belief that Formula 1’s decision to decline Andretti’s entry as the 11th team could increase tensions with the FIA.
The rejection, announced on Wednesday, was based on concerns about Andretti’s potential competitiveness and value addition to the sport. This decision follows disapproval from several F1 teams regarding Andretti’s contribution to the sport.
This situation also raises questions about the differing positions of F1, which rejected the bid, and the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, which had initially approved the application.
Brundle speaking on Sky Sports News said: “This does put the FIA, the regulator, head to head with F1 management and Liberty Media – the financial rights holders because the FIA said yes, F1 have said no to what they often refer to in that document that has just come out as an 11th team rather than Andretti.”
“This is a bigger picture of a head to head now between F1 and the FIA as to who is really running this show . I think the commercial rights holders have a big sway in that.
“Of course they can squeeze another team into the pit lane pretty much everywhere we go. There’s also some hospitality in the pit lane but teams don’t want to share their money out 11 ways instead of 10 and nor do F1. So as ever, money is a big part of this as well.
“Could we get 11 teams in there if we really wanted to? Yes of course we could.”
Brundle conceded that from his personal point of view, he’d have liked to have seen an 11th team given that the top teams have locked in their marquee drivers for the coming years.
“As an F1 fan, as a commentator, I would love there to be an 11th team, and indeed a 12th team on the grid, not least because drivers like Verstappen, Leclerc, Lando Norris and George Russell at Mercedes have signed up for a very long time to stay in the same teams.
“The calendar is fairly mature these days going forward. It will be quite exciting to see that.”
