The Circus has not yet decided how to move on the entry of new teams into Formula 1 starting from 2025 but in the meantime the only real candidacy, or that of Andretti-Cadillac it seems at risk due to a failed agreement with Renault. This reasoning may have led to further delays that would threaten Andretti's entry into F1.
The obstacles along Andretti's entry into F1
Andretti's case is a true Odyssey, a case that has lasted for months and which has encountered various obstacles in the course of them. First the efforts to overcome the mistrust of team already present on the grid, who would not like to share the proceeds with another team. Then the wait for a definitive response from Liberty Media, and the FIA, the only one pushing for Andretti's entry. This very answer is taking a long time to arrive. It was scheduled for September but we are now at the end of the month and everything is silent. Once obtained approval of the FIA the discussion table would open with F1 and Stefano Domenicali, for negotiations on a commercial level.
Teams do not want the entry of an additional team to negatively impact their business models. Under the terms of the current agreement, negotiated during 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, each new team must pay a dilution fee of $200 million. Additionally, each existing team would receive $20 million, which would account for any loss of prize money generated by adding an extra team. But the value of the teams has increased dramatically, plus everyone had to endure during the pandemic years. The 10 teams therefore lined up in order to "protect the sport" by asking for greater protection for those who did it everything not to abandon the Circus even when it was going through a profound crisis.
Is Andretti in danger of not joining due to a failed agreement with Renault?
The problems for Andretti, however, would appear not to be limited to the Circus. Entry into Formula 1 would be at risk due to an agreement with Renault for the supply of engines, which would have failed, delaying discussions with the FIA and F1. This was revealed by internal voices in the paddock, reported by journalist Joe Saward.
“The little birds in the Marina Bay paddock said that Andretti no longer has a valid agreement with Renault engines. Renault has made a clean sweep of personnel (and perhaps even ideas) and Andretti may no longer be suitable. It is logical that Renault is more concerned with improving itself, instead of complicating its situation with customers […] An entry is required to race and the consent of the FIA and FOM is required to obtain an entry. If there is no agreement on the engine, the team cannot get an entry, because otherwise all the other candidates will sue the Federation for letting an unfeasible project pass by and instead rejecting their […] Time is running out for 2025 and if Andretti gets an agreement for 2026 this will mean that he will find different conditions under the new Concorde Agreement".
Source statements: FormulaPassion
