Andretti still in the dark, but pressing ahead with F1 preparations

Andretti Global is pressing ahead with its F1 entry preparations, despite the absence of a clear indication from Formula 1 regarding its decision to accept or reject the US outfit within its ranks.

The Michael Andretti-led organization was given the green light by the FIA earlier this year to join the grid, but Formula 1 itself will have the last work on whether the American team will become Grand Prix racing’s eleventh entrant.

Formula 1, in concertation with its ten constituents, is in the process of carefully scrutinizing Andretti’s application, meticulously evaluating its merits before making a crucial call that will likely determine its fate.

Despite the current lack of transparency, Andretti remains steadfast in its pursuit of F1 glory, diligently expanding its technical capabilities.

The team has even taken the bold step of running a car in a wind tunnel, demonstrating their commitment to preparing for a potential debut in the 2025 season.

• Read also: Brown details 'pros and cons' of Andretti F1 entry

At the heart of this burgeoning organization lies Nick Chester, a seasoned engineer with over two decades of experience in Formula 1.

Chester's journey began in 1994 with Simtek before stints at Arrows, Benetton and Renault, where he held the position of technical director from 2013 to 2020.

Since his arrival at Andretti, Chester has assembled a highly experienced team that includes Jon Tomlinson, formerly Head of Aerodynamics at Renault, and former Williams man John McQuilliam, now chief designer with Andretti.

With a base established in Silverstone, Andretti Global is building momentum, currently employing 120 dedicated individuals, including engineers, designers, and technicians.

As part of their meticulous preparations for a potential debut, the team plans to conduct a crucial test of a prototype full-scale Formula One chassis model in Toyota's wind tunnel in Cologne, Germany, scheduled for mid-2024.

“It’s a team that wants to do it properly and wants to win,” Chester said in an interview with The Atlantic. “You don’t want to be anywhere that doesn’t have that ethos.

“As I started talking before I joined, the resource behind it, the effort that was going to go behind it to make it win, just made it very, very attractive.

“I was pleasantly surprised, in a way, how easy it was to draw people to the project. There’s a real draw of a new team, the Andretti name. A blank sheet tends to have a very proactive culture.

“We’ve had people joining from Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren. They all wanted a new challenge. It’s that real potential to shape departments, which is very attractive.”

Save for a couple of exceptions, namely McLaren and Alpine, F1’s existing teams – and indeed F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali himself - have been giving Andretti’s plan the cold shoulder, arguing that an eleventh team on the grid will only dilute the group’s all-important prize money.

These concerns persist, even despite Andretti’s alliance with automotive giant General Motors which has registered as a new power unit manufacturer from 2028.

But F1’s teams are skeptic and they want more information on GM’s level of involvement with its partner.

However, Chester contends that Andretti’s progress would not have been possible without GM's substantial support.

The Briton highlighted the significant contribution made by GM, which has already assigned around 50 dedicated personnel to the Andretti project, demonstrating their commitment to the team's success.

“We wouldn’t have got half of what we’ve got done now without GM’s involvement,” Chester said.

“It’s not an arrangement where you throw things backwards and forwards, it’s much more like one team. It’s getting really nicely integrated.

“If everybody knows you're just pushing on, then everybody's focusing on their own areas, trying to generate as much performance as they can.

“That generates a great atmosphere, so that's the way we've gone about it.”

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