Michael Andretti’s Formula 1 dream comes true without his involvement
Only the coldest of hearts will not sympathize with Michael Andretti, who has been sidelined from his namesake motorsport organization and will have no role in the Formula 1 program he has spent the last four years running. desperately trying to throw.
His efforts to introduce a partnership program with General Motors in F1 were approved last weekabout a month after Andretti left management of his racing teams. F1’s decision to expand its grid for Cadillac F1 came amid a federal antitrust investigation into why Liberty Media refused to admit Andretti Global as an 11th team – and after partners in Andretti, Dan Towriss and Mark Walter, took control of the effort.
“The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people who have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Andretti posted on social media. “I am very proud of the hard work they have accomplished and congratulate everyone involved on this momentous next step.” I will encourage you!
Although he will not have any role with the F1 team, it is unclear what his regular involvement with his IndyCar team will be. His famous father, 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti, will serve on the F1 team’s board and serve as an ambassador.
What changed F1’s position on Andretti: a candidacy it’s basically mocked in his January denial – is not known. Few have done much beyond GM’s increased commitment to playing a larger role beyond engine supplier.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of F1’s governing body, had championed GM’s bid from the start and Andretti’s bid was the only one of seven to receive approval from the FIA. In an interview with the Associated Press, he called F1’s decision to finally give the GM team a spot in the sport “a victory for all of motorsport,” but he also sympathized with Michael Andretti.
“I think he should be proud because he is the founder who started this business with his partners,” Ben Sulayem said. “We followed the proper procedure, we never favored anyone, and it was only because his application ticked all the boxes that the FIA approved it. Michael is a lovely person and I don’t think that’s personnel against Michael Andretti.”
“The other teams? For them, it was about money. They don’t want the money to be split between 10 teams and then 11 teams,” he added. “But it was only a matter of time before General Motors was approved and I think that it is incorrect to say this. it happened because Michael withdrew. What did Michel do? Why wouldn’t people want him? Because he spoke publicly? He didn’t break any rules. He didn’t abuse anyone. If people want it to be personal, that’s up to them. He doesn’t bother me.”
What probably annoyed F1 and Liberty Media, its commercial rights holder, was the Department of Justice investigation. Liberty announced it was under investigation this summer, shortly after Mario Andretti visited Washington to discuss F1’s snub with lawmakers.
The FBI was reportedly present at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last month and Ben Sulayem confirmed to AP that he had been questioned by federal investigators.
“This is the department that protects the interests of the United States and the FIA has nothing to hide,” Ben Sulayem said. “I was proud to talk to them and they were very polite and understanding. I wanted to make it clear: I wanted GM in F1 because it’s good for business. »
F1 currently has just one American team, owned by California businessman Gene Haas, despite a series-high three races in the United States. If the Cadillac F1 team arrives on the grid in 2026 as planned, there will be two American teams and Ford will officially join Red Bull that season as a technical partner.
This Andretti-less F1 effort will be led by TWG Global, the investment firm founded by Walter, who as CEO of Guggenheim Partners is the majority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea, and Towriss, who initially became involved in motorsport. as a sponsor of Andretti and took an ownership role in Andretti Global in 2022.
Towriss is now the majority owner of the Andretti racing teams and work on the F1 team will continue at Andretti’s Indiana workshop, its recently opened satellite factory in Silverstone and GM’s facilities in North Carolina and in Michigan. Towriss is the CEO of TWG Global’s motorsport business.
There is no indication who the F1 team’s drivers will be, although Valtteri Bottas said last weekend he would like to be considered and Andretti’s initial effort targeted current IndyCar driver Colton Herta, who is sponsored by Towriss’ company, Gainbridge.
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