Andretti Continue To Invest In A Future That Isn't Guaranteed

There are set to be big changes in the world of Formula 1 racing over the next few years, not only do sustainability issues come more into the fore now teams have had some appropriate time to prepare for the rule changes, but we already know we will soon be welcoming Audi to the sport - but there remains a slight cloud over the involvement of one of America's best known racing dynasties, namely Andretti.

Not that this slight cloud seems to be in anyway stopping their preparation at this moment in time. In a team up with General Motors, they are already attracting some top talent from racing's more established teams, and Andretti are in parts production for an F1 car model that already find itself inside of the wind tunnel.

The more knowledgeable F1 fan might have already spotted the potential problem with this. The team does not have an F1 entry just yet, and there is absolutely no guarantee that one will ever be forthcoming. Few bookmakers recommended for Japanese punters would have expected them to forge ahead in this manner, as normal odds offered by them on this happening would have been unbelievable really.

The governing body, the FIA have given them the green light to join the grid, but Formula One Management has not yet approved them as a candidate to debut in either the 2025 or 2026 race season. They are, in fact, known to be very reticent to add to the grid, particularly as the existing ten teams are opposed to an expansion purely as they feel that an 11th team in its own right would bring financial instability, were the prize money to become diluted and spread even thinner.

Despite the ongoing evaluation process, and the clear hurdles they face, they continue to prepare and spend money based on their own belief that they will be successful and will be in racing within the next few years.

Andretti's Global CEO and chairman, Michael, was insistent that they would prove to be a success and for him, 'time is always of the essence' as they are playing catch up in trying to perfect their car against teams who have already had the opportunity to learn from mistakes, and build up race experience and knowledge that they just do not have in a physical sense in F1.

It is clear, given the investment already made, that they have no intention of just coming in as make weights, they want to make an impact. The foundations for the F1 program are being built, or have been completed. Silverstone hosts the UK arm for a satellite American team, and that is already up and running and working in lock step with their Indianapolis headquarters, and next year they want to see plans for a new HQ in Fishers, Indiana, to serve as their global base for racing operations.

Several very well known F1 technical leaders have been brought in, like F1 technical director Nick Chester, head of aerodynamics Jon Williams and chief designer John McQuilliam.

Whilst those three stand out given the time spent in the game Enstone, Renault (now Alpine), Williams and over 40 years of experience in F1, the headcount for Andretti's F1 operation now exceeds 120 and even though the technical team is not far off the size of smaller existing setups, many more bodies are expected to be appointed in the coming months.

Chester himself recently commented that his role had been made pretty easy, as he was left to to set the values and the culture from the get go, so he basically had full control over the blank sheet he was given.

“I was pleasantly surprised, in a way, how easy it was to draw people to the project. There’s a real draw of a new team, the Andretti name. A blank sheet tends to have a very proactive culture. We’ve had people joining from Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren. They all wanted a new challenge. It’s that real potential to shape departments, which is very attractive.”

Boosting that recruitment process are GM's Cadillac brand and their actions. Many felt it was a promotional tie in that suited their ends, rather than a long term vision, but their commitment so far has dispelled those doubts.

They have doubled down on building an engine to become a future power unit supplier in 2028, to provide works support to the Andretti Cadillac team, with a further promise to make an initial customer power unit as a stop gap should they get confirmation of joining the grid in 2025 or 2026.

Included in Andretti's 120 head count so far, are 50 GM engineers and they have already supported the CFD development for wind tunnel models, the manufacturing of parts, and continue to work on roll hoop design and hydraulic systems at their Charlotte, North Carolina base.

Chester in no way downplays their importance to the project.

“We wouldn’t have got half of what we’ve got done now without GM’s involvement. It’s not an arrangement where you throw things backwards and forwards, it’s much more like one team. It’s getting really nicely integrated.”

Given GM's role in NASCAR and sportscar programs, an F1 end that is truly US in origin is a fascinating potential addition.

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