What? There definitely should be more midfield teams.

The only reason why the Caterham, HRT and Marussia teams failed in the last decade was because there was no cost cap.

That's a short term view. No team is good in their first few years, minus Brawn. If they entered this year or next they would be able to refine their chassis so they can compete in 2028 when they get GM engines.

The financial argument makes more sense, it's much more difficult to prove that Andretti would grow the business, but with US interest waning it might be the thing that brings people back.

It’s ludicrous to think that Andretti could just waltz in and be competitive.

Nobody is ever going to be super successful in their first season (BrawnGP built on Honda's work). Of course there is going to be a learning curve. FOM are basically demanding that Andretti-GM run an entire F1 operation in parallel to the official competition, build up talent and expertise, become super competitive without being an engine customer, and wait until the 2028 regulation when the anti dilution fee will be several billions. Joining and being a backmarker for a couple of seasons is fine for every sane person.

Latifi fucking around at the back of the field caused the most talked about moment in my fandom in 2021, so you're giving up that potential.

This really is an unpopular take.