Only an American outfit like Andretti can open the door for American drivers in Formula 1.
Many of the existing Formula One teams are opposing Michael Andretti’s attempt to bring an 11th team to the grid, which has been approved by Liberty Media and the FIA on the basis that it will dilute their commercial income.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner jokes that a successful American driver like Michael’s father, Mario Andretti who is the 1978 world champion, would be a better outcome for F1.
“I think it’s great that there’s interest from both OEMs and a brand and a team like Andretti… it’s a great name,” Horner said.
“It would be better if Mario came back to drive,” he smiled, “but I think it’s something for Liberty and their business model to work out.”
However, according to former McLaren driver Michael, opening the door to an American team is the only way to get a successful American driver like Colton Herta or even Alexander Rossi back into F1.
“We want to be an American team that develops American drivers for the future,” Michael Andretti told motorsport-total.com.
“There is no team that does not that now, but it’s what we want,” he admitted. “There really isn’t currently a legitimate way for an American driver to get into Formula 1… There just isn’t… We want to clear the way for them.”
Colton Herta who is the son of former IndyCar driver Bryan Herta, is due to test for McLaren in F1 and Andretti believes he is the perfect example of an American driver who belongs on the Formula 1 grid currently.
“He has the talent, but they ran out of money so they came back to the States and he opted for an American series,” Andretti said.
“I want us to take the youth out of karting and show them the way, and hopefully if they are good enough they will end up in Formula 1.”
“We will have the team to make it happen and ensure they have a legitimate chance.”
