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Mario Andretti’s F1 Dream Team Omits Lewis Hamilton in Hypothetical GM Line-Up

Miguel Cunha by Miguel Cunha
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Lewis Hamilton – “I pray every time before I race. I pray that everyone is safe,”

With General Motors and Cadillac officially greenlit for a 2026 Formula 1 entry, attention has turned to the question of who could drive for the American powerhouse. But when Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 World Champion and now a board director for the GM/Cadillac F1 project, was asked to dream up a hypothetical driver pairing, his choices raised eyebrows.

Verstappen and Fangio: Andretti’s Picks

Rather than naming seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton as part of his ideal F1 duo, Andretti instead selected reigning champion Max Verstappen and the legendary five-time title winner Juan Manuel Fangio.

“Well, I’d put Fangio and Max Verstappen in there,” Andretti said in an interview. “There’s so much to choose from, obviously, but that just came off the top of my head.”

While a purely hypothetical scenario, Andretti’s omission of Hamilton from his dream line-up is notable, given Hamilton’s unprecedented success and legacy in the sport.


Building a Future from Scratch

The GM/Cadillac team faces significant challenges as it prepares for its debut in 2026, including developing or acquiring a competitive engine and assembling a driver line-up. Given the team’s expected growing pains in its early years, Cadillac may not initially attract top-tier drivers like Verstappen or Hamilton. Instead, rookies or veteran drivers looking for a fresh start could be more realistic candidates.

Andretti’s picks, while aspirational, highlight the allure of blending current excellence with the sport’s rich history. However, for the real-world Cadillac team, striking a balance between experience and emerging talent may be key.


Mario Andretti’s Surprising Role

Andretti’s involvement with Cadillac’s F1 entry has been a twist in the tale of the American team’s long and contentious road to joining the sport. While his son Michael Andretti was initially the face of the push for an F1 team, F1’s skepticism about Andretti Global as an independent entrant shifted the focus to Cadillac and GM as the primary force behind the project.

Mario Andretti was named director on the board for the Cadillac team, a role that surprised even him.

“My first love was Formula 1,” Andretti said. “And now—70 years later—the F1 paddock is still my happy place. I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, and to still be involved at this stage of my life—I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”


The Road Ahead for GM/Cadillac

Despite the excitement, Cadillac faces an uphill battle. Key challenges include securing a reliable engine partner for the 2026 regulations, building a competitive car from the ground up, and attracting a driver line-up capable of delivering results.

Andretti’s vast experience could prove invaluable in guiding the fledgling team through these hurdles. But the project will require more than a storied name to succeed—it will need relentless innovation, strategic planning, and a commitment to establishing itself in one of motorsport’s most competitive environments.

As for the hypothetical dream team? Fans can only imagine what Verstappen and Fangio, both icons of different eras, might achieve together. For now, the focus remains on who Cadillac will realistically field in their inaugural season—and whether they can live up to the bold legacy of the Andretti name.

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