Rejected F1 Team Exposes Formula 1's Flawed Application Process

While the FIA's attempt to keep the process of adding new cars to the Formula 1 grid has been kept largely under wraps, one of the potential teams decided to publish a press release after it was rejected.

Rodin Cars (RC), based in New Zealand and the backing behind Carlin Motorsport provided a statement as to why it should have been given the green light to join the grid in 2025, one year before the new engine regulations kick in.

RC says its press release is not to criticize the FIA or force them to reconsider. RC simply thinks it's in the Formula 1 community's interest to release the information. Basically, it wants the fans to know what's going on behind the scenes.

Still, there are some scathing comments in there. "Recent information suggests, as anticipated from the outset of this process, that the only successful applicant will be Andretti Global," the press release states. This is good news for Andretti-Cadillac, but less so for the other teams who wanted to join the pinnacle of motorsport.

As we understand it, hopeful teams had to submit documents with key highlights about why they should be allowed on the grid. RC justified the need to be included using six extremely valid points.

The first point is geographic diversity. As you might know, all F1 teams are based in Europe (yes, even Haas), and Rodin would have been the only team to be based in the Southern Hemisphere. Rodin makes a good point. F1 markets itself as a global motorsport and travels to six of the seven continents, yet 70% of the teams are based within a 50-mile radius in the UK.

Rodin also revealed that it was in talks with Ferrari to collaborate, which means it likely would have purchased every single component it's legally allowed to buy (including the power unit) from the oldest F1 team on the grid.

The third point it made is its close ties to Carlin Motorsport. Through Carlin, RC backed various racing formulas, including F4, GB3, F3, and F2. "While Andretti has a long history of successful participation in US racing, our program offers a direct ladder to an F1 drive by competing in the UK and European championships," the press release states.

Previous drivers that came through their ranks include Vettel, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Russell, Sainz, Tsunoda, and Norris. That's two world champions and three Formula 1 race winners.

RC is also a car manufacturer, albeit on a smaller scale than most F1 teams. It has built a functioning prototype of its FZero, which it claims can challenge Formula 1 car lap times. It is a serious piece of kit, powered by a 4.0-liter V10 and a gearbox built by the geniuses at Ricardo. Think of it as an Audi R8 V10 but styled to look like a Batmobile.

But having a production car hardly matters otherwise the current champions would be screwed. What really matters is that Rodin has access to its own test tracks, just like Ferrari and the famous Fiorano Circuit.

Rodin also says that its Formula 1 program would have been fully funded by the personal wealth of its founder. Obviously, the $200 million dilution fee was not a problem.

Finally, Rodin committed to reserving one seat for a female driver. According to Rodin, it tested Liam Lawson, Jamie Chadwick, and Louis Sharp, and if Chadwick was available, it would have had no hesitation to put her in the seat. We find this statement particularly interesting, especially considering recent developments of women in F1. The FIA is pushing hard to get a permanent drive for a woman, and this would have ushered in a new era.

"We appreciate the opportunity to have participated in the FIA process and extend our best wishes to Andretti for their successful bid. Rodin Cars remains committed to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and will continue to pursue excellence in the world of racing," Rodin concluded.

We expressed our feelings earlier this week when it was announced that Hitech Grand Prix, Carlin Motorsport, and LKYSUNZ had been shot down, with Andretti-Cadillac reportedly being the only remaining contender.

The current Concorde Agreement allows for 26 cars on the track, allowing room for three more teams. Hitech hasn't been around for that long, and LKYSUNZ appears to be a comedy outfit, but Rodin's rejection seems like a massive missed opportunity. F1 is pushing hard to make the sport more diverse, not to mention establishing an entirely new racing series to get women into Formula 1.

But when push comes to shove, the various teams and the possibility of having to share the wealth is the only thing that really matters.

Sportsmanship be damned.