The thorny topic of the private members club structure that is Formula One has again raised its head during this weeks Monaco Grand Prix. A number of senior paddock figure have been trotting the mantra that the American owned global racing organisation can only enter the sport if they but a team like Audi have done.

Formula One for now is enjoying a boom, as increased revenues pour into the sport from higher race hosting fees, more races and a raft of interest from US corporate sponsors. Recently the McLaren CEO made a dramatic claim that all of the ten teams now have a value “north of $1bn”. Yet for some teams all is not well.

 

 

 

F1 legend treated disgraceful by Liberty Media

Alpine look to be a shambles as their five year plan to be racing at the front of the field has evaporated. The Enstone based team have also cleared out a number of long standing senior personnel in an attempt to regicide their ailing fortunes.

Haas F1 also appear to be a shadow of their former selves and Williams are playing catch up as they replace ageing facilities and production methods.

At the recent Miami Grand Prix, Liberty Media’s CEO was caught telling motorsports legend Mario Andretti he would do whatever was required to block the US racing organisation from joining F1. Mario described how Greg Maffei interrupted an exchange between him and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali on Saturday during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.

“Mr Maffei, broke in the conversation and he said: ‘Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1,’” Mario told NBC.

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FIA green light Andretti F1 entry

According to Andretti, Maffei then walked away. “I could not believe that,” he said. “That one really floored me. We’re talking about business,” he added. “I didn’t know it was something so personal. That was really — oh, my goodness. I could not believe it. It was just like a bullet through my heart.”

Despite the FIA scrutinising the Andretti application to join F1 for several months before giving it the green light, US owners of the commercial rights to the sport have blocked their entry, claiming maybe in 2028 when Cadillac has built their own F1 power unit, they will look again at the proposal.

However, Andretti F1 have ploughed ahead opening this year a facility at Silverstone with some 80 staff as they prepare to join the competition.

Christian Horner commented in Monaco, “Andretti has great racing heritage, Mario is a legend of the sport, and of course, Cadillac, a huge automotive manufacturer from the US. I think Formula 1 [Liberty Media] have said in 2028,” he added. “If they were to come with their own engine, they would obviously, I think, review it.”

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Alpine boss suggest team may be for sale

Horner went on to advocate the Andretti Racing organisation should follow Audi’s example and buy an existing team, presumably Alpine, given Gene Haas will never sell to his arch rival Michael Andretti.

Sauber boss Aleesandro Alunni Bravi who is working to integrate his team with Audi for 2026 agrees with the Red Bull boss. “I think that Audi shows the right path to come to Formula 1. Of course, Cadillac is a big player and it qualifies this project as a potentially good project. But there is a way that is to buy into an existing team. And I think that the process put in place by Formula 1 is a clear one. Very robust project. So I think that they know which could be the way.”

Interestingly Alpine boss Bruno Famin chipped in: “I think we’re all on the same line. There are two ways, they buy a team or they bring enough value to the championship to compensate. But I think it’s the same story from the very beginning.”

With Alpine being the only realistic opportunity for Andretti to acquire one of the current ten F1 competition, maybe the bosses at Renault who own the worlds outfit are beginning to reconsider their investment. The French company has in days gone by had much success in being a power unit supplier only, winning just two world championships with Fernando Alonso (2005/6) as the Renault full works team.

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US justice department investigation into F1 cartel

As with Williams, the under investment over the years has left Enstone looking tired and in need of a big upgrade to its facilities. The French auto giant appears to have little appetite for this which is why the team are at the back of the grid.

So the reality is why would anyone pay $1bn for a Formula One like Alpine, when they can start from scratch spending their money one brand new facilities rather than the crumbling facade that is the current Enstone base?

The US justice department has just launched an investigation into anti-competitive practices in F1, which could if escalated could see the owners of the sport facing punitive fines. The most severe response would be to ban F1 from competing on US soil and given the half a billion investment in the Las Vegas Grand Prix facilities Liberty Media have made, this would be the biggest de-valuation the sport would ever experience.

Christian Horner either wittingly or not admitted F1 is a cartel when speaking to reporters in Monaco. “We’re US-owned,” said Horner speaking of Liberty Media. “We [as RBR] have five Fortune 500 companies on our car. I think that this isn’t about anything to do with Andretti being American or anything like that. I think it’s purely down to the business model that is Formula 1.”

Both Haas F1 cars disqualified in Monaco

 

 

 

F1 not a rosy as some believe

The Red Bull boss regencies of the times not so long ago when there were always one or two teams in tremendous financial difficulties needing to be bailed out. “We finally got into a position where there’s great strength and health in Formula 1 and Liberty have to be congratulated for that because they’ve created a model where even the worst team in Formula 1 probably has a billion-dollar valuation and you know Liberty have created that model.”

Its difficult to see how the current legal process taking place in the US will not eventually conclude F1 is a private members club where the current competitors are playing ball and won’t let anyone else join in.

Further, there appears some delusion over valuations given top a recent addition to the NHL had to pay $600m to join the club and were granted entry.

Andretti should wait it out and not buy a struggling F1 outfit for an inflated price and be forced to operate from an existing location with ageing facilities and demoralised staff. Reality will come home to roost with Haas F1 and Alpine someday soon, as the rest of the players continue to progress and invest in their teams, while these two trail around laps down in the Grand Prix.

Verstappen says Newey suspension found out in Monaco

 

 

 

Red Bull issue 100% denial to exit rumour

In a strong statement designed to quell rumours of an imminent exodus, Red Bull Racing Technical Director Pierre Wache has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the team. This comes amid widespread speculation linking him with a possible move to Ferrari.

In an exclusive interview with Crash.net during the Monaco Grand Prix, Wache confirmed his long-term commitment to Red Bull Racing. The assertion comes in the wake of legendary car designer Adrian Newey’s decision to leave the team at the start of 2025, sparking rumours of a wider exodus of key personnel…. READ MORE