In the Miami Formula 1 paddock, located near the Hard Rock Stadium which is the home of the Miami Dolphins, there is a gathering of esteemed figures from the world of motor racing. Among them, Mario Andretti stands out as one of the most prominent personalities. Despite being 84 years old, Mario exudes a vibrant energy and is in high spirits. He is enthusiastic and passionate, particularly when discussing his son Michael Andretti’s endeavor to establish the 11th Formula 1 team in 2026. This project has received attention in the media, with Andretti Global being backed by General Motors and gaining approval from the FIA, although it was ultimately rejected by FOM.
The upcoming Miami Grand Prix weekend has generated significant interest in the Stateside media, as the United States Congress has taken a keen interest in the sport. Formula 1 is experiencing tremendous growth in the country, and with Liberty Media, a US corporation, owning the commercial rights, it was only natural for Congress to investigate what the sport has to offer. The level of attention given to Formula 1 is comparable to that of the Olympics or the World Cup.
Unsurprisingly, a Congressman raised the question that has been on the minds of motorsport enthusiasts worldwide: Why is there no American Formula 1 team? Mario Andretti, once again, confirmed that his son Michael’s pursuit of a Formula 1 team is ongoing and well-known within news circles. The Andretti Global F1 project is progressing “full steam ahead,” with the establishment of a new base in Silverstone being the latest development.
It is important to note that the Andretti family did not initiate the letter sent by the United States Congress to Liberty Media, questioning the delay in allowing an American team to join Formula 1.
The letter was spearheaded by Representative John James of Michigan and endorsed by several of his colleagues. The main point of contention expressed in the letter is that it is unjust and misguided to prevent American companies from participating in Formula 1, as this may potentially violate American antitrust laws.
Given this context, the first question posed to Mario was a natural one: What is the status of Andretti Global’s bid for Formula 1? In response, Andretti clarified, “Let me be clear, I did not take the matter to Congress. It was actually Formula 1 that caught the attention of Congress when they held an exhibition in Washington, DC last week.”
The perception was that the Andretti family brought their case to Congress in order to prompt the letter to Liberty Media’s CEO and President, Greg Maffei. Mario reiterated that this was not the case, stating, “I want to make it clear that they are the ones who attracted Congress’ attention. They requested me to come to Washington and answer some questions. They were curious as to why, despite Formula 1’s clear efforts to establish a stronger presence in America, it is facing such difficulties in approving an American team.”
“I did not initiate the trip to Washington. I did not request to speak with any of them. Anyone who believes otherwise is mistaken. However, when they extended the invitation and asked me to meet with them, I naturally accepted. Why wouldn’t I?”
“It was a general discussion, and they are aware that we are also in a state of uncertainty and eagerly awaiting a resolution. And that’s all,” Andretti revealed.
One could argue that Formula 1, in its current state, no longer lives up to its claim of being the pinnacle of motorsport. It has increasingly become an exclusive club, where entry for any new team is virtually impossible, thereby solidifying the dominance of the current ten teams (or perhaps nine, considering Red Bull’s ownership of two teams) at the summit of the motorsport hierarchy.
Consider not only Andretti, but also Toyota, Peugeot, Porsche, BMW, and even Cadillac (Andretti F1 partners) have exceptional operations in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) that are also deserving of F1 if they ever wanted to go in that direction.
However, they will encounter a barrier. There is no way to enter as all ten spots are filled, permanently or at least for now. There is no way in. What about Andretti Global’s approved status from the FIA? Surely it was just a formality after that?
After conducting a thorough review of Andretti’s plans for entering F1 and their business strategies, the governing body of the sport stated at the time, “With General Motors on board, F1 cannot reject this entry.” Yet they did, on F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s desk.
The shortsightedness of F1 teams, driven by greed, continues to puzzle Andretti to this day: “From our perspective, it’s hard to comprehend. We are willing to adhere to all the rules and the Concord agreement. We were accepted by the FIA.
“Now, if we fulfill the requirements outlined in the current agreement, then we should be in. So far, there has been a lot of discussion and speculation in the media about various things, such as numbers, but nothing directly addressed to us.
“That’s what needs to be clarified from our standpoint. We need to reach a conclusion here, and we have demonstrated our readiness and commitment for 2026. That’s it. Our objectives are clear. We are entering this with full awareness because we have thoroughly analyzed the situation. We know what needs to be done to comply.”
“They issued a statement in January, but during one of the meetings, we were informed that it is not yet final. So please enlighten us on what we are overlooking. That’s all. We simply need to have a discussion about it, and unfortunately, we haven’t been able to properly arrange that. That’s our current situation,” expressed the 1978 Formula 1 World Champion with a sense of regret.
When asked if they considered the option of purchasing an existing Formula 1 team (such as Alpine or VCARB) instead of creating an 11th team, Andretti responded, “No. We are now fully committed to our original plan. We made significant efforts for nearly two years to acquire another team, specifically Sauber. That was our initial strategy. We explored every possible avenue, but unfortunately, none were viable, so we had to change our approach.”
The topic of American drivers, like Colton Herta, being utilized by Andretti Global’s Formula 1 team was raised, to which Mario explained that it is the long-term goal. He stated, “We need to be realistic. In the future, we will aim to encourage the presence of two American drivers. Initially, our objective is to have at least one, although time passes quickly, and nothing can be guaranteed with 100% certainty. You mentioned Colton Herta, who is certainly one of the strong contenders to be one of the drivers at the beginning. The ultimate aim is to provide opportunities for American drivers, particularly those trained in the IndyCar Series, to potentially progress into Formula 1,” Andretti speculated.
In conclusion, we set a date to enjoy a cappuccino together in the Andretti F1 Team paddock at Monza in the near future. We all hope that we can fulfill this plan without a doubt,” assured Mario, who achieved his first Grand Prix victory as a Ferrari driver in South Africa in 1971.
Interview with Mario Andretti conducted by Nasir Hameed in Miami.