“We’ve done everything that was asked of us and, so far, we’ve delivered,” says Mario Andretti in the March 2023 issue of Motor Sport.
“We are honest in our approach and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to reach our goal, that’s what drives us. It’s what we love, and that’s not gonna change.
“All along there have been headwinds but you have to have the resolve, the relentless pursuit of your goal, and there’s always the opportunity to succeed.
“A lot of things have been discouraging, but there’s encouragement. The support from the fans, the people who love the sport, has been so strong.”
Andretti was speaking before today’s announcement of a formal application process for new F1 teams, which could see two join the grid as early as 2025.
Prospective teams must submit their application to racing’s governing body, the FIA, by the end of April and a decision is due to be taken by the end of June, although any new entrant will require the approval of Formula One Management (FOM), which controls the commercial rights.
It is this element that has been a barrier for Andretti, with FOM facing resistance from some current teams. They are reluctant to welcome a newcomer that will be eligible for a share of the F1 profits that is currently split between ten of them.
Although new entrants must currently pay $200m to help compensate for diluting the profit pool, F1’s rising revenues mean that teams are valuing themselves more highly, making the price too cheap in certain eyes.
“I don’t dwell on the negatives,” says Andretti. “Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. Sometimes, honestly, I ask myself, ‘Do we really need this?’ – and the answer is yes, we do, we actually do.”