Liberty Media confirms Justice Department investigation over F1’s Andretti denial

Meridian, Colorado-based Liberty Media, owner of Formula One Group, confirmed that it is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for denying Indianapolis-based Andretti Global entry into the Formula 1 World Championship.

“We intend to fully cooperate with that investigation, including any related request for information,” Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei said during a conference call Thursday.

The F1 rejection in January came after a six-month review of Andretti Global’s application. The reasoning for the denial was taken personally by both CEO Michael Andretti, his father, legendary driver Mario Andretti, as well as General Motors, which plans to partner with Andretti Global in F1 under its Cadillac brand. The bid would expand the current 10-team grid to accommodate a two-car American team.

Maffei said Thursday that the company is open to new entrants applying and potentially being approved if certain requirements are met.

The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday.

Among F1’s claims related to the rejection were that it did not believe Andretti would be a competitive team; that the Andretti name does not bring the value to the series that Michael Andretti believes it would; and that getting on the grid in the next two years would be a challenge Andretti has never faced before.

Mario Andretti, who won the Formula One World Championship in 1978, said in April that he was deeply offended by the language Formula One Management used in denying the bid to join the global motorsports series. He posted on social media he was “devastated.”

In May, six U.S. senators called on the Justice Department to look into the rejection, saying that there were concerns that Formula 1 was acting on behalf of individual teams and other “key stakeholders,” including foreign automakers, and that could be a violation of antitrust laws.