As Formula 1 prepares for the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, a parallel narrative continues to unfold behind the scenes. It involves the potential entry of a new American team into the world of F1. Michael Andretti’s bid, backed by General Motors through Cadillac, is causing ripples in the F1 community, but not all of them are welcoming. Mario Andretti, the 1978 world champion and Michael’s father, expressed his bafflement at the resistance to this new venture.
Speaking to F1 Maximaal, Mario Andretti couldn’t hide his confusion about the opposition from current F1 teams and Liberty Media, the sport’s owner. “I can’t understand that,” he said, reflecting on the reluctance to expand the grid. He questioned the wisdom of maintaining only 20 cars on the grid, especially considering Formula 1’s growing popularity and ambitions. The Italian-born American racing legend also criticized the existing teams for what he perceives as selfish behavior, a stance he regards as “nothing new”. However, he emphasized the importance of looking at the bigger picture for the sport’s management. “The management of a racing series must always look at the big picture,” Andretti insisted.
Andretti highlighted the unique value that Andretti-Cadillac would bring to F1, introducing a new manufacturer to the sport. “Everyone I speak to thinks the same way, so we are doing our best to check all the boxes. We’re not looking for favours, we just want to do whatever is asked of us,” he said, indicating their readiness to meet all necessary criteria.
Despite their preparedness, Andretti expressed concern over the timing. With the goal of entering F1 by 2025, he warned, “That is currently the plan, but time is of the essence. We are as ready as possible on all fronts and we are also in suspense.” Mario Andretti also shed light on the complex political landscape of Formula 1, contrasting it with other racing disciplines like Indycar or Formula E. “Each discipline has different goals and different rules, so it is difficult to compare,” he noted, adding that F1 has not been particularly welcoming to their bid.
Interestingly, Andretti revealed the dichotomy in public versus private stances of some F1 teams, particularly Red Bull. “When I talk to him [Christian Horner], he has few objections,” Andretti disclosed. “We are friends with the team. I know Adrian Newey, because I worked with him, and I thought they’d be the last people to object, but it’s sometimes hard to explain why people say the things they say. But we have to look past that.”
