(Long Beach) Mario Andretti said Friday he was deeply offended by the words used by Formula One Management when the organization refused his family’s and General Motors’ request to join the prestigious auto racing series.
The 1978 F1 world champion posted on social media that he was “devastated” by the announcement that F1 had rejected the decision to add two cars from the American team to its starting grid in January.
This decision was made after six months of review and evaluation of Andretti’s application. The reasons given stung Mario and Michael Andretti, as did GM, who hoped to collaborate with Andretti in F1 under the Cadillac branch.
Among the reasons given by F1, it noted that it did not believe Andretti would be able to assemble a competitive team, that the Andretti family name did not add the value to the series claimed by Michael Andretti and that the challenge of preparing two cars within two years was greater than Andretti believed.
I was offended. I don’t think I deserved that, said Mario Andretti on Friday, on the sidelines of the Long Beach Grand Prix. It’s a big investment in the series and I thought they would be interested. The value of the series is greater with 11 teams than 10. I don’t understand. Really tell us what’s not working.
Mario Andretti
As for F1’s doubts about GM’s abilities to supply an engine for the new team, simply to instead ask GM to find a partner other than Andretti, this has enraged Andretti once again.
“This is another offensive statement. We are the ones who developed the project and GM has said it many times: “It’s Andretti or nothing”. Then F1 turns around and tries to make them an offer, Andretti said. There are things going on behind the scenes there that I don’t understand, but if they want blood, I’m ready. »
Andretti then pointed to his forearm and pretended to open his veins to demonstrate his commitment to F1’s efforts.
Last week, Andretti Cadillac opened its new facilities for its F1 operation in Silverstone, England. Andretti noted that the facilities are open and that the team and GM are “keeping the momentum going” in its bid to join F1. His group and that of F1 will meet again next month, during the F1 Grand Prix in Miami.
“We only had one meeting with them. It is a problem. It’s not sufficient. That’s why I’m looking forward to our next meeting, Andretti said. I remain hopeful because we haven’t stopped working on this project. We reported it and you can see it’s not just lip service. »
Andretti maintains the team’s goal is to make the grid in 2026, although F1 representatives have said they believe the goal is to have the team ready for the 2025 season.
He also declared that F1’s refusal was “a question of money” and that the 10 existing teams did not want to share revenues with a new partner.