While many teams oppose Andretti Cadillac’s return to Formula One, Red Bull team president Christian Horner has his own reasoning.
Christian Horner feels that the entire situation with Andretti Cadillac is being misconstrued by many people, and it all stems from the monetary issue, on which the sport is predicated.
According to Christian Horner, teams have been fighting Andretti’s Formula One debut as the 11th team since no one wants to reduce their monetary share to support another team. Christian Horner stated to The Racer:
“However, like with all of these things, it finally comes down to, ‘Well, who’s going to pay for it?’ And you can expect that if the teams are viewed to be the ones paying for it — or diluting their compensation to accommodate it — it’s not going to sit well with them.”
Christian Horner believes that teams such as McLaren and Alpine will support their entry into Formula One since they either have cooperation with them in the United States (Andretti Motorsport in IndyCar) or are a possible engine supplier.
In either of these scenarios, these teams will not be financially impacted, but the other teams would, which might include Red Bull. “The two teams that are sponsoring it (McLaren and Alpine) either have a partnership with them in the United States or are going to supply them with an engine. The other eight are asking, ‘Wait a minute, why should we diminish our share of the prize fund?'”
Christian Horner feels that the ‘Audi model’ would be preferred by Liberty Media
Andretti is not the only manufacturer seeking to enter Formula One in the next seasons. Audi has also confirmed their participation in the sport, not as a team, but as an engine supplier. From 2026, the team will collaborate with the Sauber organization, which competes under the Alfa Romeo brand.
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Christian Horner feels that having 11 teams and investing more money will be preferred by Liberty Media (owners of Formula One). Because there will be a new brand among the ten teams. Christian Horner stated:
“Then you have the Liberty (Media) folks saying, ‘Well, we’re not going to pay for it, we’re satisfied with 10 robust, competing franchises from an operational standpoint — garages, logistics, motorhomes — it’s all more to accommodate.'”
“I’m sure they’d prefer the Audi model, in which they buy an established franchise.”
GM and Andretti have declared their entry into the sport with Cadillac, but there is still some work to be done on the project. The FIA and Formula One must still approve their entry into the sport, which will only be feasible with revised engine regulations beginning with the 2026 season.
