Andretti Eyes F1 Champion in It’s Seat as Dream Driver Line-Up Revealed: “It’s Very Possible”

Despite opposition from existing F1 teams, the Andretti family has remained firm on its decision to float an F1 team. To show their commitment to Formula 1, they recently broke the ground for their upcoming $200 million facility in Indiana. The American motor sporting legend Mario Andretti has now told what his ideal driver lineup in F1 would be.

Every F1 team aspires to have an ideal combination of experience and young talent in their lineup. While the experienced driver helps the team with the car’s development, the inexperienced driver is groomed to take over that role in the future. Mario Andretti aims to strike that balance as well when his F1 team comes into existence.

Talking with SoyMotor.com, Mario revealed he wanted Fernando Alonso on his team. “It’s very possible, of course,” he told. “His experience is immeasurable and it would be a tremendous thing for us, so we’re going to look at it. I think he wants to keep racing and he’s still in his prime.”

Talking about the second driver, Andretti said, “One of the drivers who 99% would be in the team is Colton Herta, but he would need someone with more experience alongside him..” Given Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver on the grid right now, Mario certainly has a perfect choice.

“This would make the team much more complete and that is what is being discussed right now as part of the plan,” he added. “The main goal would be to have a very experienced driver alongside a new talent, and to have at least one American driver in the team.”

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Many F1 teams, including Mercedes, are against having the 11th team in Formula 1. Even F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has expressed his reluctance to have another team on the grid. That has, however, not deterred the former F1 champion.

Michael Andretti talks about his perfect “Christmas present”

The Andretti family, with many dignitaries from Indiana, recently broke the ground for a 575,000 sq. ft. facility, IndyStar reported. Mario told that the facility would be bigger than Ferrari’s and house a restaurant with the Andretti family’s best recipes. The premises will also have an amphitheater that will be used for the common public to screen races and host watch parties.

Talking about when he expected to hear from F1 about their team, Michael told, “We’re hoping in the next couple weeks. That would sure be a nice Christmas present.”

“But we’re working every day (to earn clearance for an expansion team). I’m still confident. We’re getting close. We haven’t gotten the ‘OK’ yet, but we’re getting really close.”

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The Andretti family also revealed they received an offer to take over AlphaTauri after Dietrich Mateschitz’s death. However, they are firm on floating a new team only.