Andretti has applied to enter Formula 1 , but still needs to get the green light soon if he wants to have enough time to get things rolling.
Although there is no natural line for entry deadlines in the Grand Circus, Andretti is clear that he cannot wait much longer for the FIA to make a decision.
Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, the American said: “We need it fast because the clock is ticking for us to be there in 2024. We need to know in a month.”
Andretti says he is already very clear on some key details about his entry into F1 and has committed to taking Colton Herta , his IndyCar driver, to the top flight.
In the team they believe that the presence of Herta would be one of the factors for the team to be a success for F1 as a whole, at a time when there are two races in the United States -in Austin and the new one in Miami for this year – and a third is being planned for Las Vegas.
He suggested that the way Max Verstappen had boosted F1’s interest in the Netherlands shows that an American driver could do the same for the potential audience in the North American nation.
“Look at the growth in audiences in the Netherlands because they have a pilot. There isn’t one here, and if they get a good pilot with a big following like Colton [Herta], I think they’ll be in a good place.”
“For me it’s a no-brainer. I don’t know what’s causing the delay, so I hope they figure it out,” Andretti said. “The way we are going to do it is going to be first class at all times, we have big plans that are going to be really good for Formula 1.”
“My supporters are great, they’re in this to be competitive, not just to say they’re in Formula 1. It’s sports people, they’ve made sports franchises go from not being competitive to being competitive, so they know how to do these things. , so it would be a shame if we couldn’t do it, it will be good for everyone,” he added.
Although Michael’s father, 1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti, has suggested that Renault was the most likely engine partner for the team, no final decision has been made. Ferrari is understood to remain an option if the team wins approval for entry in 2024, with Michael Andretti commenting that Renault was “one of the options”, clarifying that there was “another”.
As for the team’s factory, Andretti said he would prefer to be headquartered in the United States in the long term, but understands it may also need a European headquarters.
“Over time we would like to build it here,” he argued. “The first car would have to be made outside, more or less like Haas does, and then we would build our own car.”
“My dream is to do it here, to have a real American car. We would still have a big presence in the UK, but we would build the car here.”
On the prospect of becoming F1 team boss, Andretti said: “I’m very excited, I’ve been wanting to do it for a long time. I think it’s great for our brand and it would take us to another level.”
“It would raise our entire brand, it would raise this in IndyCar as well. I’m in the racing business and I always want us to do better.”
