Andretti wants 'a truly American team' back in Formula One

Mario Andretti would like to see a 'real American team' back in Formula 1. Speaking to Total-Motorsport.com Andretti discusses his organisation's hopes of joining Formula 1 soon and what that means for the American public.

"We feel we’re bringing something to the party," Andretti stressed. "We have a commitment from General Motors with Cadillac; it’s a huge investment in our sport. We haven’t seen a fully-fledged American team since Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers [in the 60's], so why not embrace it? The US fan base is so strong. Let’s have a team that represents this country properly."

Andretti's statement seems to be a little disguised lashing out at Haas. Although the team has spread its resources around the world, Haas has really been running under the US flag since 2016. Even if Andretti refers to the fact that Haas runs with a Ferrari engine, the comparison does not hold water: All-American Racers used a British Weslake engine. Hence its Formula 1 division had a slightly different name: Anglo-American Racers.

GM and Ford on the track together

Should Andretti and Cadillac indeed manage to join Formula 1, they will encounter another well-known American brand. Indeed, from 2026, Red Bull Racing will team up with Ford. But according to Andretti, that is only good for the sport.

"That’s what it’s all about: competition at the highest level and to have two major US manufacturers now in F1. So that can only be a very positive aspect for F1; that’s all I can say."