Andretti Global to build F1 cars in United States if granted FIA approval

Formula 1

Andretti Global to build F1 cars in United States if granted FIA approval

The team has applied to join the grid from 2024

Ewan Gale

Saturday 19 February 2022 13:31

Former F1 world champion Mario Andretti has confirmed the proposed Andretti Global entry led by son Michael would build its cars in America.

Andretti Sr revealed the cars would be manufactured in a "state-of-the-art" facility in Indianapolis near the Andretti Autosports IndyCar base, but suggested the team would be based in England.

The 1978 champion tweeted late on Friday [February 18] that Andretti Jr had submitted an application to the FIA to join the F1 grid from 2024.

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“Michael has been working on this for quite a long time, but he’s taken a different direction since there are no teams available to buy,” Andretti Sr told the Indianapolis Star.

“They’re far enough along that, if they get the approval to be added to the 10 teams that exist in F1, they’re ready to go the next day and put everything in place. This didn’t just happen.

“They’ve been working hard to secure personnel. Some individuals are standing by that have been part of start-ups [in the past], and the building would be separate [from the IndyCar headquarters], but everything would ultimately all be under one big roof - together, but separate.”

Andretti entry "checked all boxes"

F1's Concorde Agreement, signed by the current teams in 2020, states a new entry would be obliged to pay a $200 million entry fee in order to stave off fears of an early collapse.

With rumours circulating at the end of last year that the fee could be waived in the future, Andretti Sr was asked if the team would be forced to pay if granted approval from the FIA.

"They’re all set," he insisted. "They checked all those boxes, all of those things that are part of it. They’re going in with their eyes wide open with all the prerequisites.

“I don’t know how confident you can feel, but you just hope that the best intentions are forward.

"From Michael’s standpoint, there’s a huge commitment. It’s serious and absolutely in good faith, but all that is in the hands of the FIA and the Formula 1 teams to accept it.

"This isn’t just on a whim or a bucket list thing. This is for real. Michael, once he sets his sights on something, he’s relentless. He’s aligned himself with the right people to support it, and he’s doing it right."