Q: How is it that Michael Andretti did not make sure email from F1 didn’t go to his spam file? Can he really be that stupid?
Obviously, it is his arrogance. After all, he is an Andretti — he should get whatever he wants. He doesn’t deserve to be in F1. Remember the last time he was there he quit and ran home to daddy.
David Tucker
CM: Props to the AP’s Jenna Fryer for getting the spam folder part of the story, but I’d also argue if F1 was serious about wanting a meeting then there should have been direct contact from Stefano Domenicali to the Andretti project, or at the very least a follow-up when there was no response.
Q: Greed, hypocrisy, irrationality are the words that come to mind when describing the F1 teams who denied Andretti entry. How can F1 with a straight face come up with all these excuses for denying Andretti? Why has there been no support and communication from GM?
I think Andretti should send them to hell and try to take Acura to the WEC.
Jack Comparato, Ft. Pierce, FL
CM: Greed might be right, but it is understandable to me in the sense of teams just fighting their own corner, just like Andretti is doing by wanting to join. I don’t think it’s irrational at all, it’s just a cold business stance, but the teams also did not have a say in the process. Even if the teams don’t want an 11th team, if FOM does then it happens.
But then that actually is where I’d say it’s more rational than irrational, with FOM only looking at the bottom line and whether it commercially would benefit the most out of Andretti joining without GM as a PU supplier. It doesn’t seem to be willing to look at the longer-term gains there could be from increased interest in an extra team, more drivers and more storylines. They’re not tangible aspects, and admittedly are not certainties, but they could strengthen F1.
And hypocrisy, I agree with. All 10 teams started somewhere, and don’t have a given right to be the only 10 forever.
Q: Toto Wolff is talking “bold, someone you might not be thinking of.” Considers the “next Kimi” likely too young to jump into an F1 seat in 2025.
If Toto wants bold, how about a guy who’s young enough, yet mature enough, up to the task, and has aspirations of F1. How many points are still needed to issue a Super License to… Colton Herta?
Can Toto come up with any scenario bolder than this?
Racing Dave, St. Petersburg, FL
CM: Sadly, Dave, Colton slipped even further down the pecking order last year. He’s now only good for 10 points over the past three years (it’s not a fair system IMO and doesn’t reflect the value of IndyCar positions properly) so he would need to win the IndyCar championship or be runner-up this year. Even if you can argue that 2020 needs to count for COVID reasons, then he’s on 30 now but loses 20 after this year, so again needs that top two.
I think he is speaking about Antonelli when he talks about being bold, but then doesn’t want to say it yet in case he struggles in F2 this season. It’s a lot of pressure with so little single-seater experience.
Q: Wouldn’t it be great if the actual 2024 F1 season is as dramatic as the pre-season?
Isn’t the Hamilton move, now that we have had time to reflect, one of those developments that surprise at first, then, upon reflection, be a case of “how did we ever miss that?” The rumors about Elkann’s interest surfaced last year — when the Hamilton-Mercedes negotiations seemed stalled, plus Hamilton’s recent contract negotiations have taken ridiculously long. When the tell-all books get written, I wouldn’t be surprised that Hamilton has been in a funk since Abu Dhabi 2021.
If you believe, as I do, that it’s always about the money, from the “follow the money perspective,” the linkage of the world’s most recognized driver with the most recognized marque points to Big Dollars/Euros/Pounds.
Is it not weird that F1 starts the season with two of its top seats occupied by lame ducks? Can’t immediately recall anyone being signed so early before. Has F1 ever considered setting negotiating/signing windows just like almost every other major sport?
Regarding Andretti, in following the money, there’s been a lot of focus on the dilution of prize money but not so much regarding dilution of asset values (in practical terms, what you could get in a potential sale). There are a lot of private equity and other investment firms in F1 now. Their business models are unlikely to regard even the largest possible F1 team profit to meet their criteria for rate of return. Private equity makes it big money when it sells a company. Loosing Losing a few million in F1 payouts would be dwarfed by losing potentially hundreds of million in sale prices.
Meanwhile, what FOM genius was behind clause 16: “While the Andretti name carries some recognition for F1 fans, our research indicates that F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around”? Perhaps someone at FOM felt they must push back at Andretti’s very public lobbying. But to me that seems to be a gratuitous insult to one of the most respected and well-known racing families in the United States. Doesn’t seem like a smart move for a company taking a big financial risk in building a U.S. audience.
Al in Boston
CM: The signs have been there that Hamilton liked the idea of racing for Ferrari, but then I wouldn’t say to a huge degree more than every driver wants to. And the stories regularly come up around contract time and are viewed as negotiating tactics to help him get what he wants out of Mercedes.
On this occasion, it seemed like that had happened again with the deal he signed, but now we know the 1+1 was not something Hamilton was happy with and actually opened the door to him leaving.
You’re spot-on, though, about the financial aspect. Whatever Ferrari is paying him is likely to be worth it, seeing as it can now heavily increase its partnership rates with Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari together being the selling point. And sponsors will definitely pay more for that pairing, too.
Also a very good point that’s been made in other answers about the devaluation of what a team is worth if Andretti comes in at the current $200m figure. I think F1 teams might be getting a bit ahead of themselves with some figures, but then they are generally only worth what they are willing to sell for and someone is willing to pay.
I felt that was an unnecessary dig from FOM, even if it might be true. Certainly in the U.S. it’s not accurate, but globally the name and brand would become far more known and valuable thanks to the sport’s reach and standing. Why it’s unnecessary is the fact that every sponsor or entrant knows that and that is one of the reasons they’re involved in F1 — it’s a huge marketing platform! Why it was being used as a stick to beat Andretti with is a weak argument to me.