McLaren CEO Zak Brown has argued that the opposition to Andretti’s entry to the Formula 1 grid is based on a lack of education about the actual proposal being presented.
Back in February, the FIA opened an Expression of Interest process to identify “one or more” new teams looking to compete in the sport as early as the 2025 campaign.
Last month, the sport’s governing body confirmed it had accepted Andretti’s proposal, but it is still awaiting the green light from Formula One Management.
Andretti’s bid to become F1’s newest addition from 2025 has been met with stern opposition from the incumbent teams, who are concerned about a reduced prize pot.
But while Brown has been one of the more vocal supporters of the Andretti F1 project, he admits he can understand why others remain less keen on the eponymous outfit.
“The pros is they [Andretti] can help grow the pie,” Brown told the Track Limits podcast.
“That pie can be fans, first and foremost; that can be television revenue; that could be increased exposure in a certain market that helps to bring in more sponsors, excitement on the racetrack.
“The downside is if the pie doesn’t get larger, and then you’re just divvying up the same-sized pie, and that’s where I think the majority of the teams are.”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali revealed last month that there was no rush to finalise the “process on the commercial side” which will determine whether Andretti is approved.
With the finer details of Andretti’s proposition concealed, Brown contends that opinions on the American squad have been formed without a full understanding of the terms.
“I think all of us are not that informed on what the actual proposal is, so everyone is running around with an opinion,” he added. “I’ve not seen specifically what’s on the table.
“My view is as long as it’s additive to the sport, brings in more fans, brings in more revenue, brings in better television contracts, whatever that may be.
“If it makes the pie larger I’d rather have one 11th of a pie that’s 1,000 times than one-tenth of one that’s 100 times.
“But ultimately the teams don’t have a vote in the matter, so we just need to be dependent upon Formula 1 and the FIA to make that decision as to whether they feel it’s additive.
“I think everyone has an opinion, but not anyone is that educated on actually what the proposition is.”
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