F1 Miami GP 2024: Mario Andretti Renews Bid to Enter Sport With a Special Meeting at the Miami International Autodrome

Mario Andretti was devastated when F1 dismissed his bid to enter the Formula 1 grid in 2025 as Andretti Cadillac. However, it seems like he has not yet given up hope, as recent reports suggest his son, Michael Andretti, is prepared to meet with all ten F1 team bosses at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix to talk about a potential entry in 2026.

Despite getting prior approval from the FIA, the governing body of the sport, FOM rejected Andretti’s bid in late January by stating that they would not be competitive enough as a customer team and would not add significant value to the sport, among other reasons. However, Mario Andretti believes they’ve not had enough opportunities to sit down with the FOM and the other team bosses to discuss their objectives.

And that’s why they look forward to meeting with the F1 team bosses in Miami. According to a recent report from SoyMotor.com, Mario said, “We have only had one meeting with them. That is a problem. We have not talked enough, and that is why I welcome our next meeting. Let’s sit together. We have to look forward, not back. I remain hopeful because we never stop working towards this objective. It has become clear that our work is underway. We are not just talking.” [Translated by Google]

He also hinted at the financial and performance reasons given by F1 for rejecting their entry and explained that they are fully committed to this project. He added, “It was definitely for financial reasons. We try to say we’ll do what they ask, but they haven’t told us that yet, other than excuses that they don’t want us to show up or they don’t want us to be embarrassed. We don’t want to be embarrassed.”

Despite not knowing whether the meeting will bear any fruits, Mario Andretti is accelerating the creation and expansion of his Formula 1 base.

Andretti to hire 60 UK staff for their new European base

Andretti had already been working on a prototype F1 car even before they submitted their official entry documents to FOM. And despite being told that they can’t enter the sports before 2028, the team has recently established its new base in Silverstone, UK, with 120 staff members and a promise to increase this number to 400 once their F1 operations are in full swing, signaling a deliberate intent to compete in F1.

The Silverstone base will be responsible for the design and aerodynamic development of their F1 cars, while their Indianapolis factory, which has a workforce of 700 people, will focus on manufacturing chassis. In fact, Andretti has even gone ahead by hiring staff for their new headquarters.

According to a report from Autosport, these vacancies span across various critical roles in F1, including head of aero development, head of mechanical design, and various other engineering positions, including aerodynamics and CFD, model design, electronics, control systems, IT, vehicle performance and manufacturing.

Do you think the meeting in Miami will revitalize Mario Andretti’s dream to enter the sport before 2028?