Steiner expresses view on Andretti rejection: "F1 protecting the teams"

The FIA had already given permission for an eleventh team on the grid, but Formula 1, as well as Liberty Media and several Formula 1 teams have put a stop to this. The idea was that Andretti would be allowed to compete in the premier class from 2025 or 2026, but this has been pushed back to possibly only from 2028.

'Formula 1 protects Andretti'

According to Steiner, this rejection of Andretti shows that Formula 1 is in such good shape that it cannot afford to let non-competitive teams onto the grid, he told the ESPN Unlapped podcast. "I think they looked at it and thought it was too ambitious, 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, 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."

'Participation in Formula 1 is very difficult'

Steiner does not rule out Andretti's participation in the future but admits it is very difficult. After all, he himself was at the helm when Haas entered Formula 1 in 2016. "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 One you are as competitive as it is required by Formula One now. There is no weak team now, it's very competitive. You cannot fail. FOM [Formula One Management] would not allow anyone to fail. So you need to make 100 percent sure you can prove you will not fail."