Fernando Alonso says the Andretti name would be a great addition to Formula 1, but the Spaniard will ultimately support Aston Martin's position on accepting an eleventh team among motorsport's elite.
Andretti Cadillac's candidacy to become an entrant in F1 was officially given a green light by the FIA earlier this week, with the US outfit the only team to have passed the governing body's stringent screening process.
However, Andretti's fight for a spot on the grid from 2025 or 2026 has just begun. Team boss Michael Andretti and his associates must now surmount the staunch resistance that exists up ahead, with F1 itself and a majority of teams expected to tighten their grip on their protectionist stance.
On Wednesday, Alonso's employer Aston Martin F1, through the voice of its team owner Lawrence Stroll, expressed its opposition to an expansion of the grid.
"I'm a strong believer that it's working really well with 10 teams right now, and believe that's the way it should stay," Stroll commented.
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But Alonso, who is well acquainted with Andretti whom he raced for in the Indy 500, believes that from a sporting perspective, the US outfit would fit in well with F1.
"A great team - I know Michael and he would be a great name to add to Formula 1," Alonso told the media in Qatar on Thursday.
"But there are other people in charge of these kinds of decisions - the FIA, then FOM and the teams as well.
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"So for me, I don't know exactly what to say, whatever will be the final decision is going to be ok.
"I like Michael, I like the organisation but I also understand other things. I will support whatever Aston Martin's position is - I will be ok with anything."
Lewis Hamilton said that he would welcome two more cars on the grid and Andretti as an entrant.
"I think it's great," said the Mercedes driver. "I think in F1 I've always felt that there weren't enough cars on the grid.
"There will definitely be people that won't be happy for me to be so supportive of it! But I think it's great.
"It's an opportunity for more jobs, there's another two seats available for a potential female driver to come through. It opens up more possibilities, and I think it'll be more exciting for the race."
Max Verstappen was also enthusiastic about the idea of Andretti joining the grid. But the soon-to-be three-time world champion accepted that drivers would likely have a different view on the topic than their teams, for obvious reasons.
"That is why it is very hard to comment on that because I speak from the drivers' side," said the Red Bull charger.
"Of course I am not a team owner, but I can understand their side. But everything I have seen so far, plus I think the partners they have, and the name, they have shown that they are a professional team, so it would be I think it's nice because it gives more opportunities for the drivers' side.
"But I can understand it from the teams' side that they don't want it. So it is a tricky one, a tough one.
"At the end of the day the FIA, the teams and of course the FOM, they have more information about how serious everything is and how well everything is prepared. That is why it is not going to be an easy decision to make."
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