Tense hours for Domenicali and Liberty Media, accused by Andretti of secret chats to block his entry into F1. The Andretti case in F1 has suddenly reopened.
What’s unfolding in the United States over the last few hours is truly sensational! Michael Andretti, former F1 driver and head of the Andretti team, has repeatedly submitted his application to Stefano Domenicali and Liberty Media to enter Formula 1 in recent months. After much hesitation and general skepticism about having 11 teams (and therefore 22 drivers) in F1, the answer was a firm no. However, Michael didn’t back down and has repeatedly hinted at his intention to appeal against F1 and Liberty Media in recent weeks. Something that now seems more likely than ever.
In recent hours, as reported by journalist Ralf Bach, some “intriguing” developments have emerged that, if confirmed, could lead to a major scandal: Andretti accuses F1 and Liberty Media of denying the American team entry into the sport through Whatsapp conversations between Stefano Domenicali (the main scapegoat in this matter), Liberty Media, and some unnamed team principals. This is a heavy accusation, as it would not only damage the reputation of the Italian executive but also shake the entire system of Liberty Media, which has held the exclusive rights to F1 since 2017.
The exact content of these alleged conversations remains unknown, but what has reached the media (and forms the core of Michael Andretti’s accusation) is quite straightforward: F1, certain teams, and Liberty Media, despite having signed regular and official documents for the entry of an 11th team into the paddock, allegedly “trashed” everything, abandoning discussions with Andretti at the last moment, effectively denying him entry into the circus. This is a huge accusation, potentially even more explosive given the possible “allies” Andretti may have in the matter: the American reportedly has indirect support from some U.S. political figures, ready to back their compatriot’s bid to bring a second American team into F1.
Clearly, this news should be taken with caution: there is no guarantee that these alleged proofs (which will presumably undergo legal scrutiny) are authentic, nor that the defense from Domenicali and Liberty Media will be unsuccessful. However, if everything is confirmed, the entire organization would face a massive upheaval, likely igniting an unprecedented media scandal.
Photo: Michael Andretti X, Andretti Global