Photo: RacePictures

Racing icon Andretti enjoys the new rivalry with Red Bull and Verstappen

18:01, 15 Jan

Updated: 19:14, 15 Jan

byLudo van Denderen

Mario Andretti thinks it’s fantastic that Cadillac and rival Ford are entering Formula 1 at the same time. “This is unprecedented,” says the American.

The first meter of the new Formula 1 season has yet to be driven, but Cadillac has already landed the first jab at its eternal rival Ford. Dan Towriss, the CEO of the Cadillac team, stated that Ford’s entry with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing is nothing more than a marketing tool, whereas General Motors, as a shareholder, is doing much more with Cadillac.

Andretti overjoyed with Ford’s arrival in Formula 1

Towriss’s words might suggest that Cadillac views Ford rather venomously. Nothing could be further from the truth, judging by the words of Mario Andretti. In an exclusive interview with GPblog, the advisor to the Cadillac team says it’s fantastic that Ford has joined as well.

Mario Andretti - Photo: RacePictures

“I love seeing two American manufacturers in the World Championship,” says the former Formula 1 world champion.

“I think that’s unprecedented. Ford has been involved for years with Cosworth and such, but General Motors was never officially active in Formula 1 until we (Andretti Global, the founder of the Cadillac team, ed.) brought them in.”

“So that’s great and something I’ve personally talked about a lot since the 1960s with Zora Duntov, the spiritual father of the Corvette. GM and General Motors in Formula 1. There they are. Isn’t that great? It is for me,” concludes Andretti.

Cadillac livery for the test in Barcelona - Photo: Cadillac

In Detroit, where both Ford and General Motors are based, the livery of the first Red Bull Ford car will be presented to the public overnight from Thursday to Friday. Cadillac will unveil its final colour scheme only on February 8.

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