Andretti: F1 project will reach a point ‘where they can’t say no’

Michael Andretti believes the Andretti Cadillac project is approaching a juncture where its entry into the Formula 1 world championship will be undeniable.

The American outfit is forging ahead with its plans to join the fray at the earliest in 2026 despite its entry being rejected by Formula One Management (FOM) last January.

However, FOM has stated that it would be ready to reconsider Andretti’s application for 2028, should its partner General Motors be willing to supply a works engine to the team.

Undeterred, Andretti continues to push forward with unwavering determination.

And the team’s commitment was on full display on Wednesday at Silverstone Park with the opening of its new 48,000 square foot UK headquarters that will house its F1 activities.

• Read also: Andretti Global inches closer to F1 with new Silverstone facility

"We are still working along with FOM and we will show that we are bringing a lot to the party,” Michael Andretti told Sky Sports News.

"General Motors is huge coming to the party. They are not just coming to be here, they are coming here to be a big part of our team, and I think it's not been understood yet how big that is.

"I think once everybody understands what we are really putting together, it'll be a point where they can't say no.”

The former F1 driver stated that General Motors was already working on a power unit for F1 and scheduled to be introduced in 2028. But the American team wants two years of “building” and bedding in before it launches its association with GM.

"They are currently building an engine. They are already registered to do it,” Andretti explained.
"So we will have an engine in '28, but obviously we need to build to get there.

“To just, all of a sudden, show up in '28 with a new engine and no team, we need two years to build there to get there that when we do get our own engine the team's ready to go and be competitive.

"So we are not naive in any way in that way.”

As for Grand Prix racing’s teams who continue to argue that expanding the grid could cause financial instability due to the negative impact on the sport’s prize money fund, Andretti is convinced the US outfit’s presence would help grow F1’s financial pool.

“We feel that we're not going to be diluting the pot, we feel like we're going to be helping raise the pot, and when the pot gets bigger, then everybody is going to share more in it,” Andretti said.

"It's been a little frustrating, but we'll get our point across."

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