Zak Brown claims Andretti-Cadillac could buy an existing F1 team despite no ‘for sale’ sign on the grid

Andretti-Cadillac has been advised by many people in the paddock to acquire an existing team on the F1 grid.

Zak Brown claims Andretti-Cadillac could buy an existing F1 team despite no ‘for sale’ sign on the grid

Michael Andretti and Zak Brown (Via IMAGO)

Andretti-Cadillac faced a stern rejection from Formula 1 to join as the 11th team despite promising prospects. The American constructor has made multiple attempts to hope to make the sport reconsider the bid. However, Formula 1 is unlikely to budge over their final call to reject the team. Amidst this, multiple people including Zak Brown advised the constructor to acquire an existing team on the grid.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had also advised the team to purchase an existing team after Formula 1 officially rejected the bid. Hence, Zak Brown noted the easiest way for Andretti to enter the grid would be by purchasing another team. However, the McLaren CEO further added that there wasn’t any team available to be sold currently on the grid.

That would certainly be the easiest thing to do, There doesn’t seem to be anyone who wants to sell at the moment.
Zak Brown told ESPN.com.
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However, despite the reluctance of the rival teams to be sold, Andretti would need to produce a lucrative deal. The American constructor should be ready to spend a lot of money to buy their way into the grid. Regardless, no team currently had a ‘for sale’ sign on their doors for the coming few seasons in Formula 1. Brown mentioned that there still was a possibility of a vacancy opening in a team to be sold.

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But that being said, it just means the offer needs to be bigger. No-one has a ‘for sale’ sign from what I can see on their front door, [But] there’s always a number.
Zak Brown added.

Zak Brown claimed that Liberty Media will put forth ‘extreme criteria’ for the 11th team

Joining the grid or purchasing an existing team was a much cheaper and easier affair in the past years. Brown recalled that Williams was sold to Dorilton Capital for almost $150 Million. However, now in the current season, the Grove-based constructor wouldn’t be sold for anywhere under a Billion and a half dollars. Hence, this could further cause problems for Andretti to purchase an existing team on the track.

These franchise values, I think Williams was bought for $150 million, I don’t think five years later you can buy that team for less than a billion and a half. The value creation has been immense.
Zak Brown noted.
Mclaren F1 CEO Zak Brown (Via IMAGO)
Mclaren F1 CEO Zak Brown (Via IMAGO)

Apart from this, F1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media currently has a great set of ten teams present on the grid with great prospects. Hence, it will be very difficult and unlikely to make the authorities consider the addition of another grid. However, if Liberty Media was to add an 11th and 12th team, they would put forth the most extreme criteria.

Liberty is now in a position where you’ve got ten very healthy teams, So they’re going to hold an 11th and 12th team to the extreme highest criteria and extreme due diligence - which I think is right.
Zak Brown concluded.

Hence, Andretti-Cadillac will have to either look over their prospects of being in Formula 1 or succumb to purchasing another team. The American constructor refuses to back down from their dream of joining the grid. Andretti had recently built their own factor in Silverstone with the employee head reaching in similarity to the Haas F1 team.

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