Mario Andretti has revealed a tense conversation with Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media, during the recent Miami Grand Prix weekend, where Maffei purportedly vowed to block Michael Andretti’s aspirations of entering Formula 1.
In an interview with NBC News, Andretti recounted the heated exchange that unfolded at a private reception in the Palm Club during an exclusive breakfast. The conversation arose when Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali inquired about Andretti’s recent visit to Washington, where Andretti was invited by lawmakers to champion Andretti Global’s bid to join F1 as its 11th team.
“I was asked to go there. And just as I was trying to explain that to Stefano, Greg Maffei, Mr. Maffei, intervened and stated: ‘Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1′,’” Andretti recalled.
The remark targeted Michael Andretti, Mario’s son and the chairman and CEO of Andretti Global, who is leading the charge to enter F1. The altercation unfolded mere days after Mario Andretti stood alongside lawmakers at the Capitol, where Congress members accused F1 of engaging in anti-competitive practices by rejecting Andretti Global’s application.
Following his statement, Maffei reportedly walked away and has not reached out to Andretti since. “I could not believe that,” Mario Andretti expressed.
“That one really floored me. We’re talking about business. I didn’t know it was something so personal. That was really — oh, my goodness. I could not believe it. It was just like a bullet through my heart.”
While Liberty Media and Maffei have refrained from commenting, NBC reports a source close to Liberty Media, speaking anonymously, disputed Andretti’s account. The source claimed that Andretti approached Maffei at the breakfast and that Maffei clarified Andretti Global’s application was rejected for sound business reasons.
In January, Formula 1 delineated its rationale for the rejection, citing, “Our assessment process has established that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the Championship… We do not believe that the Applicant would be a competitive participant.”
The situation has since escalated, with the House Judiciary Committee launching an inquiry. Influential senators have urged the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate F1 for purported anti-competitive practices, aiming to shield predominantly European teams from American competition.
Mario Andretti stressed that his engagement with lawmakers was at their behest, sparked by their interest following a recent Red Bull F1 show run near the Capitol. “I did not initiate that,” he affirmed.
Andretti remains resolute in his conviction that Andretti Global meets all criteria to join the F1 grid, noting FIA’s approval of their application before the commercial side of the sport intervened. He holds on to hope for a resolution allowing Andretti Global entry within the next two years.
“We’re bringing something of value. It’s a big investment in the sport that we love or sport that’s our job and our passion,” Andretti stated.
“It’s a long-term commitment. We’ve done everything that needs to be accomplished, needs to be done to earn a spot in Formula 1. What else do you want us to do?”
