Why F1's suddenly set for a new team after all

After what feels like years of the same narrative, with Andretti wanting to get into F1 and finding new ways to be rejected, the story finally seems to be changing.
But even though the most controversial wannabe 2026 entry now looks like it really might happen after all, it might not necessarily be “Andretti” getting on the grid - at least not in name.
The entry supported by American automotive giant General Motors, the largest carmaker in the US and one of the biggest in the world, is now likely to be approved after a key breakthrough, and more progress should be made in the next few weeks.

00:00 F1's U-turn
02:31 What changed?
05:58 Legal pressure
07:32 Will Honda help?
10:22 Driver line-up

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[thLittleberry]

I would laugh so hard if Michael Andretti stepping down and this revised proposal was a play to get the team approved, and once they get greenlit they would simply sign him back on as team principal and change the name of the team to Andretti GP or whatever.

[ctomon]

Andretti’s biggest adversary was Greg Maffei, who said as long as he was CEO of liberty, Andretti wood would never get a spot. So it’s no coincidence that since he recently “stepped down”, this has been reignited.

[hankrearden]

So it was Liberty Media, basically having a personal vendetta against Andretti? That's what it sounds like to me. It doesn't sound like there had any other problems with the entry besides potentially GM going full works

[BigMacMick]

Michael Andretti will be straight back into the helm at Andretti Racing once they get the green light ;)

[pooyakhalili]

F1 desperately needs more teams. There are so many young talents being wasted because of lack of seats.

[MrSniperfox]

What really hurt FOM's case was the claim a "customer team" could not be competitive, and guess who is top of the championship? A customer team

[georgythomas]

Liberty media CEO and Michael Andretti have some personal beef between them. That is the only reason why Andretti team was denied entry.

[nightryder]

So this is rock solid proof that the reasons laid out by F1 for Andretti not joining is complete BS!

[skiper]

Sooo f1 wants Andretti but without andretti. They really hate that guy

[Compendium_of_tom]

The rejection was just a petty personal beef with Michael Andretti, embarrassing for F1.

[marzgrab]

We definitely need more private teams to bring more young drivers through

[Erik_The_Viking]

F1 clearly doesn't want Andretti. He steps down, they're suddenly okay with their entry, while the embarrassing Audi soap opera continues on? Yeah - I'll believe it when I see that car on the grid.

[anirudhr]

The uncompetitive reason is BS. Teams are worried of losing that good prize money.

[TXninenine]

F1 can't be serious to say that they're denying a new team entry because they "wouldn't be competitive" when they have Sauber on the grid with 0 points with 3 races left in the season. 🤣

[jeremy]

I don’t know how they’re excuse of “no one has heard of this name” works when you have teams like HAAS and Kick Sauber which is nonexistent to the public outside of F1

[RTonYT]

Maffei tells Mario Andretti recently that he "will do everything in his power" to stop Michael from entering F1.

1. Maffei has been fired and has no power now (and no one volunteers to moves on from a powerful and lucrative position without a better gig, which Maffei does not have.)

2. Why would Maffei have said such a thing? What made Maffei so furious at America's famous racing family? Andretti's confrontational/abrasive approach? No, I think that just gets an emphatic "NO".

Recall that the United States senate moved to launch a DOJ investigation into F1 anti-competitive tactics. This investigation could have resulted in the government looking at Liberty Media much more closely, including financials and tax issues. Now, if Liberty very much want to avoid such scrutiny Maffei's harsh rejection and words to Mario can be seen as a serious blunder.

[frankm]

Michael can probably negotiate a deal with Honda to get a customer engine with his ties to the manufacturer.

[dgrblue]

F1: We reject your bid?
Andretti: why?
F1: bring us a manufacturer and we will talk
Andretti: say hello to General Motors.
F1: 😳 oh shit, he actually did it. Umm, oh yeah, We will gladly take GM, but in 2028
Andretti: but you said...
F1: we just dont like you, but your friend GM is welcome. Also you will provide no value
Andretti: I will be stepping away from project lead.
F1: come on in... how does 2026 sound? No engine? Details. We will sort it out.

F1 is so morally bankrupt it is pathetic.

[zbatchDOC]

Andretti steps down and f1 says “ok”

Lol

[xxxxyyyxxxx]

If I'm understanding correctly:

1. It was personal
2. US politics caused heads to roll within FIA leadership?