A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has called on the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to investigate as a possible antitrust violation Formula One’s exclusion of a racing brand owned by racing legend Mario Andretti.
Additionally, “in 2023, a single team won all but one race, and half the teams in F1 have failed to win a race in the past four seasons combined,” the senators said. “This competitive balance has not been the hallmark of F1 racing and adding a team backed by a major U.S. car manufacturer is likely to enhance competitiveness, not reduce it.”
The team referenced is Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT, driven by Belgian/Dutch superstar Max Verstappen.
The letter stated that although “F1 currently does not have an American-based team, F1 has been determined to increase its presence in the U.S. market.”
It also said that “more than 1 million Americans have tuned into each F1 race, more than doubling over the past few seasons.”
The Department of Justice confirmed it received the letter but declined to comment further.
Last season, F1 had races in Las Vegas, Miami, and Austin, while other countries hosted just one race.
The letter was signed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).
The Epoch Times has reached out to Formula One and the FTC for comment on the letter.
Formula One Management (FOM), which is owned by American company Liberty Media, late last year rejected the Andretti application, but “work continues” by the organization to make it happen.
Mr. Andretti last month officially opened the factory for his Formula One team in England and, along with General Motors officials, met with Formula One. Andretti Global has a partnership with General Motors.
Although the meeting did not open warmly, Mr. Andretti said, he felt better about it by the time it ended. A second meeting is scheduled for this weekend in Miami.
The rejection of Andretti Global happened despite the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, which determines if racing brands can join Formula One, approving Andretti Global to begin competing in Formula One in 2026.
“Clearly there is a financial incentive to adding an American team to F1’s roster, and there is no reason Team Andretti-Cadillac should be blocked unless FOM is trying to insulate its current partners from competition,” wrote the senators.
During a press conference on Capitol Hill on May 1, Mr. Andretti, who won more than 100 races in his more-than-three-decade racing career, remarked that his brand is qualified to join Formula One, which has 24 races worldwide this season.
“We’re ready with everything that’s needed. Give us a green light and let us do our thing,” Mr. Andretti said. “Our team, Andretti Global, is part of every major racing discipline in the world. ... Formula One is the one that’s left. And we want to be part of that.”
