Fernando Alonso says the arrival in Formula 1 of Andretti Global, the entity behind the legendary motorsport family's F1 efforts, would be "the best of news" for the sport.
American team owner Michael Andretti is still moving forward with his plans to join Grand Prix racing's grid in the future, despite still awaiting a green light from the FIA.
In Miami last week, Andretti indicated that motorsport's governing body, through the voice of its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had expressed its contingent support for the Andretti Global project.
But several F1 teams, including Red Bull and Mercedes, remain sceptic about the benefit for F1 of expanding its grid to eleven teams, a move that would inevitably dilute each team's share of the sport's revenue.
However, two outfits have gone on record supporting Andretti Global's entry: McLaren and Alpine, with the latter in talks reportedly to provide its Renault engine to the US team.
Alonso, who worked with Andretti Autosport when the Spaniard tackled his first Indy 500 in 2017, sees only positive consequences for F1 if the legendary Andretti name returns to the fray.
"Well, sure, it could be a big thing," said the Alpine charger. "I know Michael very well, I know the Andretti family and they are obviously a big part of motorsport in general and they are legends.
"So if we can have them in Formula 1 that will be the best news, I think for both.
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"Formula 1 would benefit from that and obviously Michael and his team will benefit from the sport and from being in Formula 1.
"And I think they have the capabilities, the resources, they have the talent to be in Formula 1 and be competitive as well.
"So I hope this thing comes true in the next few years and I will follow very closely."
The Andretti family's patriarch, Mario Andretti, said in Miami that the family if pulling out all the stops to convince the FIA and all involved parties of the benefits of accepting its franchise in the sport.
"I can tell you one thing, it's not for the lack of trying," Mario told Sky Sports F1. "We're on it, no question about it.
"There's a process that we're respecting and we're trying to check all the boxes we're expected to be checking and the objective is to be there, to be on the grid in 2024.
"We have a big, huge team that can make this happen. Time is of the essence, no question, but I think all the ingredients are in place."
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