Father and son Andretti getting nervous: "The clock's running"
F1 News
- GPblog.com
In addition to the unveilings of the new cars and the winter tests, the F1 world has been abuzz in recent weeks with the possible new F1 team of Michael Andretti. Rumours of joining have been circulating frequently over the past week. Andretti himself said that a commitment from the FIA is urgent.
It started back at the end of 2021 when a deal was said to be imminent for Andretti to buy Sauber and have its own F1 team together with the partners of Alfa Romeo F1. This deal fell through because of a dispute over who would control the team. Last week, Andretti's father, 1978 F1 World Champion Mario Andretti, suddenly tweeted that his son had applied to the FIA to sign up a new F1 team for 2024.
Andretti is in a hurry
Fairly soon after that came the rumor that the FIA is not waiting for the possible eleventh team on the grid from Andretti. Still, the Andretti family put their teeth into the plan and continued to fight to make it happen. In conversation with APNews.com Michael Andretti said that time is running out now: "The thing is, the clock's running. We need to get this done as soon as possible. Two years does sound like a long time, but it's not that long. We have a lot to do, a lot to build."
Andretti stresses that they are just about ready to start the whole operation. For example, they are already well on their way with the possible engine supplier and everyone who will be collaborating on the team is already in the starting blocks to go into action immediately upon an approval from the FIA. If Andretti's plan cannot go ahead because the FIA does not cooperate, then the last option for the American is to buy the Haas F1 team from Gene Haas.