close
close
hsuses

The head of the judiciary of the House of Representatives is opening an investigation against Formula 1 because of the exclusion of Andretti

Theo

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee is launching an investigation into Formula One and its U.S. owner Liberty Media, demanding answers over the sport’s decision to deny Andretti Global a spot on the grid.

In a letter obtained by NBC News, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan accuses sports chiefs of “anti-competitive behavior” by rejecting the American racing team’s offer to enter Formula 1 in 2025 or 2026.

The letter is dated Tuesday and addressed to Greg Maffei, president and CEO of Liberty Media, and Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula One Group.

“Delaying Andretti Cadillac’s entry into Formula One for even one year will harm American consumers and benefit failing Formula One teams,” Jordan writes. “Limiting the number of teams in Formula 1 increases the cost of sponsoring or purchasing an existing Formula 1 team. “As the committee reviews this matter and considers possible legislation on the structure and competition of sports leagues, we are writing to request an employee-level briefing on the decision to reject Andretti Cadillac’s application to join Formula 1.”

Jordan is demanding documents and communications relating to the “process for evaluating the entry of new teams” into the sport that refer to or relate to Andretti Global, as well as between or between the Formula 1 Group, Liberty Media and the 10 existing teams via the Joining a new team. He gives them until May 21 to respond.

The letter highlights Congress’s increasing interest in the actions of Formula One, whose popularity in the United States has increased significantly in recent years. Andretti’s decision to partner with Michigan-based GM to produce its engines increases the domestic and commercial interests of a storied American team that competes in the sport.

The letter comes days after Mario Andretti, a former Formula One world champion, visited Capitol Hill and spoke to lawmakers at a news conference to pressure the sport to accept Andretti Global.

“Chairman Jim Jordan met with Mario Andretti last week,” said a source familiar with the meeting. “Chairman Jim Jordan is a big Formula 1 fan and is watching Drive to survivelike many Americans.”

Formula 1 and Liberty Media had no immediate comment. Formula One rejected Andretti’s offer in January, saying in a lengthy statement that it “did not believe the applicant would be a competitor.”

Through a spokesman on Tuesday, Mario Andretti declined to comment on the letter.

The Ohio Republican claimed that Formula 1’s actions fall under the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee because sports leagues like these “operate in an important area of ​​antitrust law where a certain level of collusion is required to develop the product.”

“However, if a sports league deviates from its rules and practices in a way that reduces competition and weakens consumer interest in the product, the collusion may amount to anticompetitive conduct,” Jordan writes.

You can read Jordan’s full letter below:

At last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, NBC News called on Formula One team bosses to respond to the US Congress’ new interest in the sport’s foreseeable rejection of Andretti. Several of them distanced themselves from the decision.

“I think both Formula 1 and the FIA ​​have taken their positions and don’t seem to be changing. So I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. And I think all the teams have said we don’t have a vote on this matter,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

Williams team principal James Vowles added: “I’m not particularly familiar with the US justice system. What I can say is that the FIA ​​and FOM have completed a proper course and process. And like Zak says, we have no say in this.”

Related Posts