Andretti F1 plans unchanged after ownership switch
Despite Michael Andretti’s decision to step back from team ownership, the UK-based F1 operation has not thrown in the towel on its bid to be on the grid for 2026
Michael Andretti’s decision to step down from running his race team on a day-to-day basis will have no immediate bearing on its bid to join the Formula 1 grid.
Motorsport.com has learned that Andretti’s Silverstone factory continues to recruit staff in a bid to have a full 2026 chassis ready before the New Year.
Former F1 and IndyCar driver Andretti has built one of the most successful motorsport teams across the world and is currently competing in multiple championships.
But he has failed in bids for his team to race in F1 by first failing to acquire Sauber before seeing his plans for an 11th team halted by F1.
Andretti’s application had initially received the green light from the FIA in October 2023 before the governing body performed a u-turn on its decision along with a rejection from Formula One Management in January this year, rather brutally saying it believed the team would not be competitive or add value to the championship.
The news was a blow to Andretti, which had formed a new F1 base at Silverstone with a view of competing in F1 from the 2025 season onwards.
Confusingly, despite having a remit to grow the sport, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who had previously led calls for more teams on the grid, recently urged Andretti and its partners, General Motors in the form of its Cadillac brand, to “go and buy another team, not to come as the 11th team”.
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz / Motorsport Images
After Andretti’s shock departure, insiders say this is not as a consequence of the failed bid to enter F1 and that plans are still going ahead in the hope of getting the approval to race in 2026.
In a bid to ensure the team is ready should it be granted permission to join the F1 grid, the Andretti operation is still operating as usual.
The team has been growing at an average of seven new starters every week and now totals over 260 full-time people working on the project
Furthermore, the team is working 16-hour days in the wind tunnel in Cologne, as it is not yet bound by F1 testing restrictions and is developing parts such as nose cones and wishbones that have been crash-tested at the FIA-approved F1 crash testing facility at Cranfield.
The team is also working on suspension and braking systems and roll hoop constructions for the 2026 regulations.
In another huge step, the team hopes to have its first chassis out of the mould before January – well in advance of some of their rivals.
Andretti is now hoping for both the FIA and FOM to revise the decision to prevent them from joining F1 as an 11th team.
In stepping back, what Andretti has done is remove himself from the equation, having drawn particular heat from F1 and rival team bosses.
By handing the operation over to Dan Towriss, the new-look team could look to speed up the process to become a GM works team with its own engine from 2028, something that F1 had stipulated in its rejection letter.
What now remains to be seen is if the new ownership – without Andretti at the helm – or indeed the Andretti name at all – go back to FOM with a second attempt at making the cut.
News
Chase Elliott on the bubble as four drivers face Roval elimination
Chase Elliott on the bubble as four drivers face Roval elimination NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver is right on the edge of seeing his 2024 title end at the Charlotte Roval, and the three remaining underdog stories are trying to shock…
FIM announces two-year MotoGP engine freeze from 2025
FIM announces two-year MotoGP engine freeze from 2025 Engines to be homologated and sealed for the next two MotoGP seasons The FIM has announced a MotoGP engine freeze for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. As reported by Motorsport.com last month,…
Pierre Gasly explains his other job: football club co-owner
Pierre Gasly explains his other job: football club co-owner The football-loving Alpine driver opens up about why he invested in French team FC Versailles and needing more in his life than “just Formula 1”. In a parallel universe, Pierre Gasly is a…
Haas F1 team agrees technical partnership with Toyota
Haas F1 team agrees technical partnership with Toyota Haas is tying up with Toyota Gazoo Racing to work together in F1 The Haas Formula 1 team has announced a technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, the motorsport division of the…
Fenestraz: Ex-team-mate Rowland “easily on a par with Verstappen”
Fenestraz: Ex-team-mate Rowland “easily on a par with Verstappen” Former Nissan Formula E driver has had to look elsewhere for employment Sacha Fenestraz believes one of the reasons his time in Formula E came to a premature end is because he…
Ducati halts GP24 bike development amid Martin, Bagnaia MotoGP title fight
Ducati halts GP24 bike development amid Martin, Bagnaia MotoGP title fight Ducati will not deliver any further GP24 bike developments as the MotoGP title battle intensifies Ducati has decided to halt development of its 2024 MotoGP bike as the title…
End of content
No more pages to load