Fred Vasseur claims F1 needs American drivers rather than American teams to grow in the US

Fred Vasseur was convinced that nationality of drivers played a bigger role in the sport's popularity.

Fred Vasseur claims F1 needs American drivers rather than American teams to grow in the US

Fred Vasseur [L] Michael Andretti [R] (images via IMAGO)

Formula 1 is currently evaluating Andretti-Cadillac‘s bid to enter the sport as the eleventh team. Michael Andretti‘s team needs to have a commercial agreement with FOM to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport. The all-American bid is believed to be a major boost to F1’s growth in the US. However, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur believes that the sport should focus on American drivers instead.

The Frenchman highlighted that Formula 1 has always been successful in regions with winning drivers. Vasseur pinpointed the sport’s rise in the Netherlands in recent years as Max Verstappen established himself as an all-time great. Subsequently, the Ferrari team boss was convinced that the nationality of drivers played a much bigger role than that of a team in F1.

F1 is successful where there are winning drivers. Currently one of the countries where F1 gets the most attention is the Netherlands because [Max] Verstappen is there. It’s a question of the nationality of the drivers, not of the teams.
Fred Vasseur told it.motorsport.com

Additionally, Fred Vasseur mentioned the Haas F1 team, the only American team presently on the grid. Haas has not gained a massive fan following in the US since it entered F1 in 2016. The Ferrari team boss insisted that Andretti-Cadillac could have a similar fate to Gene Haas‘ squad.

Currently we already have an American team, which is Haas, and if we are talking about Andretti, I imagine that he will come with the same approach as Haas.

The 55-year-old made it clear that to achieve success in the United States, the sport needed to have more drivers from the country. Presently Logan Sargeant is the only American driver racing at the pinnacle of motorsport. 

If we really want to be successful in the United States, it will be more about having American drivers at the start and being successful, rather than having American teams.

Fred Vasseur highlighted the confusing situation for an eleventh F1 team

Formula 1 last allowed an entry for an eleventh team in 2016 when Haas joined the grid. Fred Vasseur reckoned that the situation was far different when the sport had opened the doors for Gene Haas’ team. Mercedes Ferrari and Renault were the three power unit suppliers who had confirmed their stay for the foreseeable future with some uncertainty over Honda.

Fred Vasseur and Christian Horner in the Las Vegas GP pitlane
Fred Vasseur and Christian Horner in the Las Vegas GP pitlane (Via IMAGO)

Vasseur claimed that the sport allowed Haas to enter as a team. Although things could’ve been different if the proposed entrant was a manufacturer. Now, Formula 1 will have at least six different manufacturers in the sport by 2026. Fred Vasseur even claimed that this situation was confusing. Subsequently, the Frenchman was not in favor of Andretti-Cadillac’s entry in the present circumstances.

Certainly, Andretti-Cadillac’s proposed team has faced immense backlash from the entire grid. Even the backing of auto giant GM has failed to win over the support for the all-American bid. However, it remains to be seen if FOM gives the nod to Michael Andretti’s squad in the coming weeks.

In case you missed it: