Mario Andretti discloses Andretti Global’s F1 lineup plans
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Mario Andretti
Andretti Global have been seeking to enter Formula 1 for a while now. Last year, they had attempted to take over Sauber, but the deal collapsed at the final hurdle – Sauber did not want to let go of their ‘control’ of the team. Fast forward to 2022, and the Swiss team have been announced as Audi’s strategic partner for their 2026 F1 entry – when they will become the German manufacturer’s works team.
Nevertheless, Andretti continue to try and wrest their way into the pinnacle of motorsport, even if the response and ‘support’ from other F1 teams has not been the greatest. They’ve recently ‘broken ground’ on a new $200 million, 575,000-square-foot facility in Fishers, Indiana. The facility, which is expected to be operational by 2025, will serve as a ‘universal motorsports headquarters’. Presumably, it will also serve as the base of operations for their F1 team.
Apart from Sauber, they’ve also been attempting to acquire Haas – but considering Guenther Steiner’s very public criticism of Michael Andretti’s ‘European Club’ comments, that deal doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. Some reports have suggested that they are looking at AlphaTauri for a potential entry – but Red Bull aren’t interested in selling. That may mean that Andretti may just have to enter as an 11th team if they even can.
When asked by SoyMotor.com which drivers the team is looking at if they are able to get permission to enter the sport, and when Fernando Alonso’s name was brought up, 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti said: “It’s very possible, of course. His experience is immeasurable and it would be a tremendous thing for us, so we’re going to look at it. I think he wants to keep racing and he’s still in his prime.”
Mario Andretti: Colton Herta 99% likely to be part of the team
7-time IndyCar race winner Colton Herta, who currently drivers for Andretti in the series, was the prime candidate to replace Pierre Gasly at AlphaTauri. But the big hurdle was that he did not have the required amount of super license points needed to race in Formula 1. The seat instead went to Nyck de Vries, after Red Bull’s attempt to get an exemption for Herta failed.
While Fernando Alonso is only a ‘possibility’, putting Herta in the seat is more of a probability. According to Mario Andretti, the American driver is very likely to be part of the team: “One of the drivers who 99% would be in the team is Colton Herta, but he would need someone with more experience alongside him. This would make the team much more complete and that is what is being discussed right now as part of the plan. The main goal would be to have a very experienced driver alongside a new talent, and to have at least one American driver in the team.”
But before they acquire the drivers, Andretti actually have to sort out their entry into Formula 1. Mario Andretti has previously said that he hopes they will be on the grid by 2024. If it doesn’t happen then, their next chance is probably in 2026, with the advent of new regulations. But it certainly won’t be an easy road. One thing is obvious: The presence of Andretti on the grid will definitely boost the popularity of F1 in the USA, where the sport has been continuously expanding.
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