Mario Andretti snubs Lewis Hamilton to pick dream F1 line-up
With Mario Andretti having a considerable say in GM/Cadillac entry, he went on to give a hypothetical F1 line-up leaving out Lewis Hamilton.
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Mario Andretti and Lewis Hamilton, images via AP and IMAGO
As F1 has finally given its seal of approval for the American giant GM/Cadillac to enter the grid in 2026, speculations began looming about who could hypothetically be the pilots for the new team. However, opposite to expectations that ex-F1 champion Mario Andretti would take seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton‘s name, he considered Max Verstappen and Juan Manuel Fangio for the job.
After months of tireless pushing and the eventual exit of Michael Andretti, F1 ultimately agreed to General Motors/Cadillac’s F1 entry with Andretti Global remaining an outside partner. Despite F1’s seemingly discontent relation with Andretti, the 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti was made the Director on Board for the GM entry.
This subsequently led people to conspire about which drivers could form the line-up of the future GM team. Moreover, when the 84-year-old was asked about who would he rather pick regardless of the eras, he chose the reigning champion Max Verstappen and the five-time champion and late legend Juan Manuel Fangio, leaving out Lewis Hamilton.
Well, I’d put Fangio and Max Verstappen in there. I mean, there’s so much to choose from obviously, but that just came off the top of my head.
Mario Andretti said on the Big Jim’s Garage podcast
However, Cadillac would have to start from scratch in 2026 which might not make a seat at the American giant quite lucrative for many drivers. This would lead them to look at rookies or a veteran driver who is out of contract for the 2026 season.
Mario Andretti is happy with the chance to work with the GM/Cadillac F1 entry
After Andretti was relegated to a seemingly minimal role in the whole ordeal, the 84-year-old’s signing as the Director came as a shock to everyone, including himself. His love for F1 has always attracted him to the paddock and he would be quite ecstatic to guide the GM entry in the future.
Subsequently, the senior Andretti expressed his gratitude towards Cadillac for keeping him in the paddock, despite his son’s departure. Moreover, this is a win-win situation for both parties as the ex-F1 champion would get to head the new team entry while Cadillac would be able to tap into the vast experience that Andretti has.
My first love was Formula 1. And now—70 years later—the F1 paddock is still my happy place. I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss. To still be involved at this stage of my life— have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming
Mario Andretti said (via Motorsport.com)
However, multiple hurdles lie in line that Cadillac would have to overcome in order to become a successful F1 team. This includes securing an engine supplier to provide the outfit with a powerful engine from 2026 onwards.
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Geetansh Pasricha
(772 Articles Published)