By Joiner Martínez
03 Feb 2024, 21:35 PM EST
Formula 1 rejected Andretti-Cadillac to become the 11th team starting in 2026, generating debates around this decision to prevent the entry of two heavyweights from the motoring planet to the main motorsport category.
Formula 1 officials extended an invitation to Andretti-Cadillac to have a meeting in person and discuss the request to enter the division.
This call was made through email, but the text would have gone directly into the spam folder,
According to what they claim, Michael Andretti and General Motors representatives only learned of this error last Friday, when they “were seeking to clarify two points in the very critical document that F1 published earlier this week when rejecting Andretti Cadillac’s request.”
The email was sent at the end of last year for the purpose of dialogue: “Having had the opportunity to consider the applicant’s responses along with our own deliberations, we subsequently wrote to the applicant on December 12, 2023 inviting him to an in-person meeting at our offices to submit his application, but the applicant did not accept this offer.”
The authorities of the team that aspired to enter F1 were surprised by this news and then located the email, which was not sent by the executive director of the division, Stefano Domenicali, but from a member of staff.
“We were not aware that the offer of a meeting had been extended and we would not refuse a meeting with Formula 1 management. An in-person meeting to discuss business matters would be and remains of utmost importance to Andretti Cadillac. “We appreciate the opportunity to meet with the management of Formula 1 and have written to them confirming our interest,” the company said.
Formula 1 rejected Andretti after months of rumors about the possible entry of a new team (Hitech GP, Andretti-Cadillac, Formula Equal and Panthera Team Asia all sounded like candidates). Although the FIA had given its approval, the ok was missing from the company that owns the commercial rights to the competition.
Andretti is a team of North American origin that is led by Michael Andretti, who raced in Formula 1 and is the son of Mario who became champion of the Máxima in 1978.
The idea was to associate Andretti Autosport with the luxurious Cadillac to gain strength towards the maximum. This firm is part of the General Motors group, the American company that manufactures cars, trucks and engines.
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