Roger Griffiths, the team principal of Andretti Formula E, has responded to rumors surrounding Norman Nato’s future with the team. There have been suggestions that Porsche could place Nico Mueller in the team, following his departure from Abt Cupra and Porsche’s longstanding connection with the Swiss driver. This potential move would mean Nato’s departure, who joined the team this season to race alongside series champion Jake Dennis. However, Griffiths has dismissed these speculations, stating that Nato is still under contract with the team.
Griffiths clarified that the decision regarding the team lineup is solely in the hands of Andretti and not influenced by Porsche. He mentioned that in the previous season, when they enlisted Andre Lotterer from Porsche’s roster, it was at their own request to familiarize themselves with the Porsche car and systems. The team is currently in the process of deciding their drivers for the upcoming season, and Griffiths emphasized that it is entirely their decision.
Although Andretti had a chance to defend their drivers’ title with Jake Dennis in the championship final doubleheader, they fell short as Porsche and Jaguar’s factory teams took the lead. Griffiths admitted disappointment at not being able to achieve a repeat championship but acknowledged that it is incredibly challenging to secure back-to-back titles in any motorsport category. He credited their strong start in Season 9 and their understanding of “peloton-style” racing as factors that propelled them to the championship. However, other teams made significant progress during the offseason, particularly the manufacturer-backed teams.
In the final standings, Jake Dennis finished seventh with one victory and three additional podium finishes. Norman Nato also contributed with a third-place finish in the second Shanghai race. As a result, Andretti secured fifth place in the teams’ championship, trailing behind Jaguar TCS Racing, TAG Heuer Porsche, DS Penske, and Nissan. However, they outperformed last year’s champion Envision Racing, as well as the improved NEOM McLaren and Maserati MSG Racing teams, both of which also achieved victories throughout the season.
Griffiths acknowledged that being the only independent team in the top five is a significant achievement, considering the advantages that manufacturer-backed teams have, such as additional test days. Although he expressed some disappointment, he also expressed a desire to secure one more win.
