MONTE CARLO, Monaco — Christian Horner mentioned he’s shocked Andretti has gone to the U.S. Congress in a bid to overturn F1’s determination to dam its try to affix the championship.

Andretti’s trigger has been taken up by a bunch of six U.S. senators who’ve requested the Division of Justice to have a look at whether or not F1’s determination violated antitrust legal guidelines.

Former world champion Mario Andretti, father of workforce proprietor Michael, went to Congress in Washington earlier this month in assist of the method.

In a letter written earlier this week, the group steered “overseas automakers” had conspired towards the American workforce, which hoped to affix F1 in 2025 or 2026. Though it blocked entry within the brief time period, F1 has left the door open for Andretti to affix in 2028 on the proviso it will possibly safe a dedication from American producer Basic Motors to construct an F1 engine as a part of the bid.

When requested if he was involved in regards to the curiosity from Congress, Horner mentioned: “We’re U.S. owned. We have now 5 Fortune 500 corporations on our automobile.

“I feel this is not about something to do with Andretti being American. I feel every thing is only all the way down to the enterprise mannequin that’s Method One.

“I bear in mind not so way back that there would at all times be two groups on the tail finish of the grid needing to be bailed out or be technically bancrupt. We lastly obtained them to a place the place there’s nice power and well being in Method One, and Liberty must be congratulated for that, as a result of they created a mannequin the place even the worst workforce in Method One in all probability has a billion-dollar valuation. And Liberty have created that mannequin.

“I feel the method that they’ve introduced by opening up the game as properly by bringing in a brand new fandom, new followers into the game, they must be recommended on it. I am shocked to see that Andretti have gone down this course of. However hopefully, in the event that they actually wish to discover a method onto the grid, they are going to discover it. I feel essentially the most pure resolution is for them to accumulate an current franchise ought to one wish to promote.”

F1’s determination outlined a number of detailed the reason why Andretti was not accepted in for 2025 or 2026. There have been considerations over whether or not Andretti, who would have had to make use of a Renault engine within the short-term, could possibly be aggressive.

F1 additionally doubted Andretti’s bid in its present kind would deliver worth to the championship.

Horner mentioned Andretti ought to contemplate whether or not becoming a member of as an eleventh workforce is their best choice going ahead.

“Look, completely. I feel Andretti is a superb racing heritage. Mario [Andretti] is a legend of the game, and naturally Cadillac, an enormous automotive producer from the U.S.. I feel Method One have mentioned in 2028, in the event that they had been to come back in with their very own engine, they might clearly I feel assessment it.

“However I feel along with that, I feel if Andretti wish to are available in, a bit like when Audi acquired Sauber, I feel to guard the present franchise stability that we now have on this sport, then clearly their finest path to purpose is to then purchase one of many current groups.”