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F1 News: Andretti Blasts Treatment From Formula One - "My Heart Bleeds"

Mario Andretti says, "My heart bleeds when I see how Formula 1 behaves towards my son."

Andretti's ambition to join Formula 1 is currently met with resistance, as both the teams and Liberty Media have to decide whether they will approve the application following the go-ahead from the FIA. Mario Andretti expressed his frustration, highlighting the difficulties his family faces in entering the Formula One grid.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Andretti family is determined to enter Formula 1, but they face opposition from current teams and Liberty Media. The teams are concerned about the division of prize money with additional teams, while Liberty Media aims to maintain the exclusivity of the sport.
  • Mario Andretti expressed his heartache in an interview with Blick, citing the adverse behaviour of Formula 1 towards his son and their efforts to join the competition.
  • Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula 1 CEO, notes the challenges the Andretti family faces, suggesting they should have bought an existing team. 
Mario Andretti - Michael Andretti

The legendary Andretti family's quest to join Formula 1 is facing significant challenges, as their ambition to enter the world's premier motorsport competition is currently being thwarted by the existing teams and Liberty Media, the sport's commercial rights holder. Despite having received the green light from the FIA, the road to Formula 1 for the Andrettis is proving to be a bumpy one.

Mario Andretti shared his anguish with Blick over the situation.

 "My heart bleeds when I see how Formula 1 behaves towards my son," he said.

The current ten teams in Formula 1, however, have expressed their preference to maintain the status quo, fearing that adding more teams would lead to a smaller share of the prize money for each. The teams are also skeptical about the competitiveness of any new entrants. This opposition is a significant hurdle for Andretti, as both the teams and Liberty Media must approve any new entry into the sport.

Michael Andretti

Liberty Media, for its part, is concerned about preserving the exclusivity and value of Formula 1. Their reluctance to welcome an eleventh team is partly driven by a desire to maintain the sport's elite status, making Andretti's path to entry even more challenging.

Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula 1 CEO, has pointed out that the Andrettis might have avoided these problems had they purchased an existing team years ago. "Of course, the teams are fighting back," Ecclestone noted, indicating the complex dynamics at play.

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