Liberty Media under investigation by US Justice Department for Andretti rejection
10th August 2024Formula 1 owners Liberty Media are under investigation by the United States Department of Justice after the sport rejected Andretti Global’s bid to be on the grid.
Despite being given the green light by the FIA, Formula 1’s regulating body, the door was firmly closed on Andretti’s toes to join the prestigious grid, earlier this year.
As part of the rejection, it was determined that Andretti’s arrival wouldn’t ‘provide value to the championship’ and that they wouldn’t be a ‘competitive participant.’
Following the news, the DOJ’s probe is set to investigate the legality of Formula One Management’s decision to reject Andretti’s application to be part of the prestigious grid.
In a quarterly earnings call, CEO Greg Maffei confirmed that the justice department’s Antitrust Division is investigating Liberty Media over its legality in refusing Andretti.
In a report by Autosport.com, Maffei told Wall Street analysts:
“Looking at Andretti, as you saw this morning, we announced that there is a DoJ investigation. We intend to fully cooperate with that investigation, including any related requests for information.”
“We believe our determination, F1’s 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.”
Despite the rejection, Maffei has iterated that the sport is not against expansion, provided the respective applications meet the criteria to join.
“We are certainly not against the idea that any expansion is wrong,” Maffei continued.
“There is a methodology for expansion that requires approval of the FIA and the F1 and both groups have to find the criteria met.
“We’re certainly open to new entrants making applications and potentially being approved if those requirements are met.”
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
