Probe into 'seriously concerning' rejection of Andretti Global's F1 entry deepens

Team principals and other senior Formula 1 officials are under the microscope as a probe into the rejection of Andretti Global's entry into the sport deepens.

Investigators were on the ground at the US Grand Prix in Austin a fortnight ago, after the US Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation in August.

The Austin race was the first in the USA since the investigation was launched. The next in the country will be Las Vegas on November 17 (AEDT).

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F1 formally rejected the application in late January on the basis it didn't believe the team would be competitive. It also claimed the Andretti name would not add the value to the sport Andretti believed it would, which drew the ire of fans.

The Andretti name is one of the most famous in motorsport. The bid was headed up by Michael Andretti, the son of 1978 world champion Mario Andretti and himself one of the most successful American race car drivers.

Andretti Global already has investment in categories around the world, including IndyCar, sportscars, the all-electric Formula E and Supercars.

Michael Andretti stepped down as chief executive earlier this month.

The probe was launched after a letter was sent to seven US Senators claiming the rejection breached the country's Sherman Act, which according to the DoJ website makes it "illegal to monopolise, conspire to monopolise, or attempt to monopolise a market for products or services".

The letter argued rejecting the application was essentially denying other manufacturers marketing opportunities that could have led to an increase in sales around the world.

"We have serious concerns that the reaction of Team Andretti-Cadillac was based on a desire to exclude a rival from the racetrack, marketing opportunities, and prestige that competing in F1 can lead to a car manufacturer competing to sell cars across the globe," said the letter, sent on May 21.

Greg Maffei, the chief executive of F1's owners, the US-based Liberty Media, told a conference call in August they would fully cooperate, "including any related requests for information".

"Our determination, F1 determination, was in compliance with all applicable US antitrust laws, and we've detailed the rationale for our decision vis a vis Andretti in prior statements," he said.

"We are certainly not against the idea that any expansion is wrong. There is a methodology for expansion that requires approval of the FIA and the F1.

"We're certainly open to new entrants making applications and potentially being approved if those requirements are met."

A similar investigation is being considered by the European Parliament, but has not yet been launched.

Andretti's was one of four applications to join the grid for the 2025 season. All were rejected. Andretti's was considered the strongest from the outset, and had the backing of fans around the world.

Further muddying the waters was the sport's governing body, the FIA, had given Andretti the green light to enter the sport last October. The team built a scale model of a 2024-specification car to prepare for entry in 2025.

At the Miami Grand Prix in April, Mario Andretti claimed he'd been intimidated by Maffei, who had told him he'd do "everything in (his) power to see that Michael never enters F1".

Andretti claimed Maffei had interrupted a meeting he was having with F1 boss Stefano Domenicali.

The last all-new team to enter the sport was Haas in 2016.

The F1 season will continue at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, which will also include a sprint race.