Horner answers to Andretti: 'That has absolutely nothing to do with this'
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
The atmosphere between them has not become any more pleasant. After Michael Andretti was told a resounding 'no' by Formula One Management (FOM) about joining Formula 1, the mutual mud-slinging has not stopped. For instance, FOM announced that Andretti did not add value to the sport, while from the United States there was the accusation that the team should not join because it is of American origin.
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing's team principal, thinks the latter is a ridiculous accusation. "We're [a] US-owned [company]," the Briton argued, referring to Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1's commercial rights. "We [Red Bull] 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."
Horner says he remembers well how "not so long ago" two rearguard teams pulled out of the sport because of financial problems. "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. I think the approach that they bought by opening the sport as well and bringing a new fandom and new fans into the sports, they have to be commended on."
Horner - not for the first time - gives Andretti some advice: "If they [Andretti] really want to find a way onto the grid they will find it and but I think the most natural solution is for them to acquire an existing franchise should one want to sell."