Ok, so Andretti made their bid supported by three arguments:
- They had arranged a PU deal with Renault. This technically is not necessary, since a team without PU supplier is automatically assigned one. But things go always smoother when the agreement is mutual instead of forced.
- The deal also included something similar to the Haas model, where Andretti would be able to buy many parts from Alpine. This is really important for Andretti, since all their racing experience is in spec or quasi-spec series.
- And the deal also included the rebranding of the Renault PU as Cadillac. Andretti wanted to sell this as bringing a new constructor to the sport.
But it turns out that all three arguments are no longer true, and haven't been true for seven months. This is a huge question mark about the viability of the Andretti project.
And it is also a huge question mark on FIA's bidding process, that selected Andretti just one week ago. Did Andretti try to hide the fact that the contract had expired? Did FIA fail in the due diligence? Or maybe FIA knew about the expiration, but didn't care since they only care about their stupid dispute against FOM and the teams, and not the quality of the racing.
Friendly reminder that FIA gets their funding from the entrance fees paid by teams and drivers, so more teams equals more money for FIA, no matter how shitty those teams are. On the other hand, FOM and the teams get their money from tickets, F1TV subscriptions and sponsors, which rely (among other factors) on the popularity of the sport. So FOM and the teams have a vested interest in protecting the quality of the racing as a means to gain popularity. Both parties to this dispute are moved by greed, but only one is (accidentally) aligned with our interest as fans.
This is such a load of bullshit. Respecting the maximum lap time is a requirement set by the director's race notes. Avoiding stopping and/or driving unnecessarily slowly at the pit exit is a requirement set by the rulebook. Creating a manageable gap to cars in front is NOT a requirement. It is a competitive advantage. And as such, drivers and teams are free to pursue an advantage as long as they are within the requirements. There aren't contrary requirements. You either set a lap earlier than everybody else when the track is not in optimal conditions, or you wait till the last moment and take the risk of traffic.
If I were Leclerc or Hamilton, I would use this ruling to challenge last week's DSQ. After all, there are two contrary requirements if we follow the stewards' logic: the requirement of the wear of the planck and the requirement of running low to maximize ground effect.