Horner: 'Andretti may bring more to F1 than some existing teams'

Andretti Motorsports has teamed up with Cadillac to become the 11th team on the F1 grid. Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner would love to see the Americans come to F1, but insists it is not financially desirable.

Horner keen to see Andretti in F1

Adding up to two teams to the current F1 grid is currently being seriously considered by the FIA. Besides Michael Andretti, several individuals, companies and well-known car brands are vying for a spot on the grid. The selection process for new teams is very strict and current teams are also wary of adding more F1 teams. Horner explains that for him it comes down to the cost issue. Adding multiple teams would ensure that the amount of money handed out each year will decrease, but that is not the only thing.

In the Formel Schmidt podcast, the Red Bull team boss says Andretti is a great team and a great brand to have in F1. Horner: "If Liberty [Media] are happy to pay for it and bring in that money then I don't think anyone would have a problem with it. If the teams' budgets didn't were to go down, I don't think there would be any problem at all. It's nothing personal against Andretti or Cadillac, but it's just business economics."

More teams on the grid drop value of current F1 teams

Horner even insinuates that he would rather see Andretti in F1 than some of the current F1 teams on the grid: "Arguably it brings more than some of  the existing franchises. But the fundamental question comes back to: 'Should the teams fund it or is Formula 1 funding it?'" Andretti has indicated in several interviews that teams need not worry about the money. Indeed, with investor Guggenheim, Andretti can easily pay a $200 million buy-in.

Despite this assurance from Andretti, Horner maintains his argument that additional F1 teams will be a major cost to current F1 teams if the F1 organisation does not assist financially. This is because teams become worth less if there are more of them. That brands like Audi and Ford can enter F1 is a different story, according to the team boss. "Audi is buying an existing team. That's the model that has been created by Liberty. That has driven the value into those teams and franchises. If you dilute that, then of course they are going to have an issue." Horner concludes by advising Andretti to just buy another team.