Guenther Steiner defends F1 over rejection of 'too ambitious' Andretti plan

31 January 2024 , 21:27

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Guenther Steiner gave his verdict on the news of Andretti's rejected F1 bid (Image: Getty Images)

Guenther Steiner thinks Andretti-Cadillac were undone by a Formula 1 plan that was "too ambitious".

The project, led by former F1 driver Michael Andretti, was planning for an entry into the sport in 2025 or 2026 if approved. That timeframe was turned down by the sport's bosses - though the door was left open for the idea to be revisited ahead of 2028.

In a lengthy statement, F1 chiefs were especially critical of the Andretti-Cadillac plan because of its immediacy. It read: "We do not believe that there is a basis for any new applicant to be admitted in 2025 given that this would involve a novice entrant building two completely different cars in its first two years of existence.

"The fact that the applicant proposes to do so gives us reason to question their understanding of the scope of the challenge involved... On this basis, we do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant."

Speaking to ESPN, Steiner agreed that the new team was unlikely to have any success if it joined the grid as early as planned. "I think they looked at it and thought it was too ambitious," said the former Haas team principal.

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"I don't have all the information. Maybe they looked at it and they said, 'We want them but we want to make sure they are successful when they come' - to protect them from themselves.

"I think F1 is protecting all the teams, everyone involved in the sport, they didn't close the door completely. They said '28 is a new day, a new year, it's quite a few years away, it's not tomorrow but the door is open. Show us you can get prepared and be competitive by then and I think we'd welcome them."

The most recent team to gain entry to F1 was the Haas outfit that Steiner helped to build, which joined the grid in 2016. Fans will no doubt point to that team's lack of competitiveness in recent years but, as the 58-year-old went on to add, F1 is in a much more secure place these days from a financial perspective.

Steiner said: "When we came it was a completely different Formula 1 than it is now, to start off with. When we came in in 2016 I think it was a time when there were [other] backmarking teams, so it was expected there would be teams that were not so fast, so we had a lot less pressure than any other team that would come in now.

"The expectation is all the teams are competitive now... So it is very, very difficult. I'm not saying it's not doable but if you want to come in now you need to take your team and get yourself prepared and make sure when you get to Formula 1 you are as competitive as it is required by Formula 1 now. There is no weak team now, it's very competitive. You cannot fail."

Daniel Moxon