Can Andretti take advantage of it to buy Haas and join F1, bypassing Liberty Media?

Haas is heading towards 2024 in the midst of fog. The American team has made the decision to part ways with its director, Günther Steiner. The Italian is an atypical and highly appreciated media figure among the general public. For a team like Haas, with a weak history in motorsport, the lowest financial resources in the paddock, and accustomed to the bottom of the standings, the engineer’s image brought a lot to the team.

To replace Günther Steiner, Haas has promoted Ayao Komatsu, formerly the director of engineering, to the position of team principal. However, this radical change raises questions about the future of the team.

Is Gene Haas really involved?

Gene Haas’s attitude towards F1 is not very positive. The CEO projects a somewhat indifferent image of this motorsport. This perspective was perfectly balanced by Günther Steiner’s enthusiasm and passion for Formula 1. The Italian engineer championed this project. Following his departure, things could well change. Since the Covid period, the American team seems exhausted. Haas is trying things, but the gambles haven’t been paying off for the team in recent months, and the tight budget does not allow for much maneuvering room.

Haas’ presence in Formula 1 relies heavily on the support provided by Ferrari. The engine is supplied by the Italian manufacturer, and the American team’s car bears a strong resemblance to the red car. In 2022, the resemblance was quite striking. The connection between the two entities was also demonstrated by the use of Ferrari drivers at Haas. Although no drivers were from the Maranello program in 2023, in both 2021 and 2022, the team had Mick Schumacher, who was still a Ferrari driver, behind the wheel.

This Ferrari-Haas partnership relied heavily on Günther Steiner. The former team principal worked patiently and always in favor of this connection. Oliver Bearman from the Ferrari program completed the two mandatory Free Practice 1 sessions (in 2023) imposed by the FIA. With this departure, there is no guarantee that Ayao Komatsu will want to continue this link, as it primarily makes Haas dependent on another team. Ferrari may also not be convinced by the direction Haas is taking and limit its involvement with the North American team.

Andretti, a potential buyer?

Haas has been experiencing difficulties for far too long. Even though Formula 1 is more competitive than before (the gaps in qualifying are much smaller than a few decades ago), the American team is far behind its competitors. In 2023, the development has not been up to par with its adversaries and competitors. This 10th and last place in the championship represents colossal financial losses. The team is struggling to find sponsors who can provide resources. Consequently, for a director like Gene Haas who doesn’t seem very involved in this sport, selling the team seems to be a good possibility.

Another American team is waiting for its turn to enter Formula 1. This constructor is Andretti. The US firm has made numerous appeals to join the championship as the 11th team. If the governing bodies had financially approved the application, it would have to be submitted for approval by the other 10 teams. However, there is a problem as the constructors are not very favorable to this. An 11th garage in the paddock could result in financial losses with a redistribution of shares. Moreover, Formula 1 is a fairly closed circle that does not always appreciate revolutions. This would lead to further reshuffling.

In this perspective, a takeover of Haas could be beneficial for both parties. If the current team is no longer driven by the desire to race and inject money at a loss, the sale would allow them to recover compensation and thus make way for a team that wants to race.

Is Andretti ready already?

Initially, Andretti was aiming for and hoping for an entry into Formula 1 by 2025 or even 2026. In the event of their arrival, the American team has reached an agreement with General Motors. The Cadillac division of the group would be the provider of the team’s powertrain. GM is committed to partnering with Andretti to compete in F1, as certified by group president Mark Reuss to the news agency The Associated Press in November 2023. The collaboration between Andretti-Cadillac brings together two unique entities built for racing, both with extensive experience in worldwide motorsport.

On the motorization aspect, Andretti would be ready as early as 2025. In terms of staff and engineering, it also seems feasible. Although no statement has been made by Michael Andretti on this subject, his team competes in several single-seater championships, including IndyCar. Even though the championship is different from Formula 1, the company is qualified in motorsport. Furthermore, the prestige that the Andretti and General Motors association would represent in the United States would be very significant. It could attract teams and build its own team through this. Additionally, the financial resources would be much greater than Haas currently has. Andretti could compete with more means than the current F1 firm.

The 2024 season seems to be crucial for Haas. The team’s results, from a financial standpoint to the championship perspective, will be decisive.