“We are currently in the process of our ventures and remain optimistic about our progress,” Andretti stated in an interview with the Associated Press. Andretti arrived in St. Petersburg before the next IndyCar race and made it clear that he would not discuss Formula 1 before the interview. In January, after a thorough review, F1 announced that Andretti and General Motors, through their Cadillac proposal, would not be accepted into the series. However, there is a possibility of reconsideration in 2028 if General Motors develops a suitable engine.
F1 rejected Andretti’s application, stating that they did not believe Andretti would be a competitive team. They also claimed that the Andretti name does not hold the value that Michael Andretti believes. Furthermore, F1 mentioned that entering the grid in the next two years would be a significant challenge for Andretti. Both Andretti and General Motors found the negative comments unnecessary and questioned the purpose in a simple rejection letter.
Despite the rejection, Andretti Cadillac remains dedicated to their F1 project and continues to make progress. Andretti even mentioned that the team recently conducted crash tests on the nose of an F1 car they built. Additionally, Andretti expressed interest in expanding to NASCAR, but believes that partnering with an existing team is the most likely path for him. This approach reflects his entry into IMSA sports car racing, where he merged with Wayne Taylor Racing and plans to transfer their operations to the Andretti workshop currently under construction in Indiana.
Andretti acknowledged that entering NASCAR is a lower priority in terms of organizational focus compared to the F1 project. If Andretti decides to merge with a team, Spire Motorsports is the top candidate as they receive substantial sponsorship from Gainbridge, a company owned by Andretti Global co-owner Dan Towriss. (Report by Jenna Fryer)
© 2024
