Father is “devastated”
Team Andretti defends itself against the cancellation of Formula 1
February 1, 2024, 7:11 a.m
You want to keep working. Even if Formula 1 clearly rejects the Andretti racing team’s entry. In a statement, the team shared what they thought of the decision. Michael Andretti’s father also speaks out and talks about his shock.
After the clear rejection of entry into Formula 1, the Andretti Cadillac team expressed its lack of understanding of those responsible for the premier motorsport class. Andretti Cadillac firmly contradicts the content communicated by Formula 1 management, it said in a statement: “We are proud of the significant progress we have already made in the development of a highly competitive car and a power unit with an experienced The team behind it and our work will continue quickly.”
However, a Formula 1 premiere for Andretti Cadillac will not happen in a year as hoped. Not even 2026 or 2027. In a detailed statement, the racing series explained that there could be an opportunity for Michael Andretti’s US team at most in 2028 if it worked with the manufacturer General Motors as a drive supplier.
Until then, the Formula 1 top sees no added value in an eleventh team called Andretti Cadillac. The International Automobile Federation Fia, which is responsible for the non-commercial sector, had confirmed to Andretti Cadillac that the team would have the necessary resources and granted it a Formula 1 license in October last year.
Team is said not to have accepted an invitation
Andretti and Cadillac are two globally successful motorsport organizations that are determined to bring a true American team to Formula 1 and compete with the best in the world, Andretti Cadillac’s team statement continued. In the communication from Formula 1, however, they wrote: “We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant.” Formula 1 would also bring more to the Andretti brand than the other way around.
The statement also said that the team did not respond to an invitation last December to present its application. There was initially no reaction from the FIA, its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is in favor of an eleventh team. The current racing teams are critical of this because they would then have to share the proceeds with another team.
Michael Andretti’s father Mario, world champion in Formula 1 in 1978, reacted to the cancellation via X. “I’m devastated. I won’t say anything else because I can’t think of any other words than devastated,” the 83-year-old wrote.