Andretti had made significant progress on a grand prix prototype before news of F1’s initial rejection was announced. But just months after being turned down, Andretti took what it believes to be the next step in becoming a world championship outfit, by opening a brand new facility based within the Silverstone Park.
The new 48,000 square foot building will house all the team’s manufacturing facilities, as well as spaces for ADM, electronics and R&D — all of which are critical components in the base of a fully-fledged F1 constructor.
“Once everyone understands what we’re really putting together here, it’ll get to a point where they can’t say no,” Michael Andretti previously told Sky Sports F1. “We’re still working with FOM and we’ll show that we’re bringing a lot to the party.”
“This is where it’s happening in F1,” added Mario, speaking of the new Silverstone-based facility. “The majority of the work and preparation from all the F1 teams is happening right from Silverstone. It’s the heart of [F1] and you have to be part of that.”
To date, Andretti’s F1 project has been split between operations in Silverstone — which previously housed just 80 employees — Andretti Global’s base in Indiana and the GM Tech Centre in North Carolina. But the construction of the new purpose-built facility just minutes from the home of the British Grand Prix, is set to attract more key personnel who can focus on “long lead-time activities such as aerodynamic design, mechanical design and vehicle dynamics.”
Andretti Global was also planning to enter both F2 and F3 — F1’s junior categories — in order to begin a developmental pathway which will feed its team with American drivers, while also falling in line with the structure of current F1 outfits. It’s uncertain if this will still happen.
What F1 engine with the Cadillac F1 team use?
GM had already pledged to become an F1 engine manufacturer by 2028, but this has now been revised to before the “end of the decade”, taking on a customer unit from 2026.
Ferrari, which will lose Sauber as a customer in 2026 when it switches to Audi, has been touted as the most likely engine supplier for Cadillac when it joins F1, with Honda as a fall back option.
As per the regulations, F1 can make it a requirement for a participating engine manufacturer to supply a team in need, with Honda currently only working with Aston Martin from 2026.
Why was Andretti first rejected by FOM?
No space for Andretti on the Formula 1 grid – but is this a case of anti-Americanism?
Grand Prix Photo
A statement from F1 reported that its commercial assessment of Andretti’s entry had concluded “the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the championship.
“The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant.”
Andretti’s application came on the back of a surge in American F1 interest, widely attributed to the Netflix Drive to Survive series, but was opposed by teams that considered the $200m (£164m) entry fee too small a price to pay for a series that has been surging in popularity.
The team had hired staff, set up a second office at Silverstone, and begun design work – including testing a wind tunnel model – in the hope that it would be accepted by F1.
