The Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko is always in the news for his statements. From saying Lewis Hamilton should’ve retired after 2021, to his recent comments on ex-Alpha Tauri driver Nyck de Vries, he continues to make headlines. However, his most recent take is bound to bring a smile to the face of Michael Andretti. He suggested that Andretti should buy Alpine, thereby fulfilling his goal of entering Formula 1.
Andretti wants to enter Formula 1, faces resistance
Anyone who has been following the news for the past few years knows Andretti wants to join Formula 1. However, he has faced stiff resistance from the existing teams who do not want to dilute their revenue. The current Formula 1 revenue model sees all the teams sharing the profits based on their constructor’s standings.
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The current Concorde Agreement states a new team will have to pay $200 million to the teams. This will lessen the hit from the revenue. However, the teams now think it is too less. Initially, he tried to approach each team individually to make his case. However, when he realized that wasn’t working, he announced his bid to the entire world. This left the ball firmly in the court of Formula 1.
Earlier this year, Formula 1 opened its bidding process to find potentially 2 teams to join the grid. A few people opined that Andretti wasn’t bringing enough credibility to their case. Therefore, despite having an engine deal with Renault, Andretti announced Cadillac as a partner for its bid. The GM Brand will be coming on board as an engine partner.
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Alpine’s Woes
Alpine, since its re-entry as Renault in 2016, has struggled to lift itself out of the midfield. Just 1 win and a few podiums paint a sorry picture for the French automobile giant. Many think this is down to a lack of commitment from the main group. The lack of adequate funding only supports that argument.
Alpine is having a terrible 2023, both on and off track. While they have slipped to 6th in the standings, their racing team continues to be a revolving door. Therefore, Helmut Marko might not be wrong to suggest that Andretti buy Alpine. Alpine gets a decent amount of cash, Andretti gets a way into Formula 1, and no extra team is added.
So, will Andretti consider this idea by the Red Bull advisor? Will the proud Alpine team be open to selling? Keep following us to know.
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