Rumor: Andretti-Cadillac acceptance could come in Sept. (Update)

Well, the announcement did not come at Monza as we expected, however, it’s close.

Andretti are reportedly “close” to being given FIA approval to join the Formula 1 grid but will then run into opposition from the closed door boys club.

Speaking following the Italian Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz said Andretti were “close” to being approved by the Parisian body.

“To update you on what’s going on with the other potential new teams in Formula 1,” Kravitz said. “If you don’t know the story, the FIA invited applications for new teams. The word in the paddock is that Andretti Global, backed up with General Motors’ Cadillac brand, are close to being approved by the FIA.”

“All the other teams in Formula 1, [F1 president] Stefano Domenicali and Formula 1 on the commercial side have said that they are not going to [allow them in],” Kravitz explained. “They don’t think there’s space in the Concorde Agreement.

“They’re not going to enter into negotiations to allow another team in so that’s a story to watch.”

“Whether it is only Andretti Global that’s going to be allowed in,” Kravitz continued. “Or whether Hitech Grand Prix led by Oliver Oakes is going to be approved by the FIA then that’s going to reach a stumbling block because Formula 1 and the other teams don’t want to let them in. That’s a story that’s going to run and run.”

Rumor has it that FIA may announce that the Andretti-Cadillac bid has been accepted during the Italian GP weekend at Monza.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The Italian GP is slated for the weekend of September 1-3, and we have been told early September [to expect a decision whether to grant entry.]

There is some significance to having the announcement at Monza.

Monza was where Mario Andretti saw his first Formula 1 race and it was right then that Mario knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.

Andretti won the Italian GP at Monza in 1977 driving the #5 Lotus 78, fulfilling a childhood dream.

He won the 1978 Italian GP as well, but had it taken away when Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari jumped the start and that caused Mario to also jump.  It was a great race as Andretti’s Lotus 79 hounded Villeneuve the entire race and finally passed him for the lead with a handful of laps to go, only to learn of the penalty afterward.

Monza was also the place of Mario Andretti’s final F1 pole position driving for Ferrari.

Michael Andretti finished third at the Italian GP in 1993.  It was the only podium of his short F1 career because Ron Dennis removed him from the McLaren seat after that race and replaced him with Mika Häkkinen.

If this rumor turns out to be true, it will be a fitting payback for Andretti given what Ron Dennis did to him 30 years early.

Perhaps Michael will flash the #1 middle finger bird to Dennis along with a big smile.

However, even if the FIA, the officiating body,  announces that the Andretti-Cadillac bid is approved, Liberty Media and Formula 1 has to agree to allow them on the grid, and this where Andretti has met resistance.