Mario Andretti has revealed his son Michael saw himself as an ‘obstacle’ and stepped aside for the good of the Cadillac Formula 1 project.
Michael Andretti had been trying for some time to get his eponymous racing outfit onto the F1 grid and was vocal about his ambitions.
Still, despite being given the go-ahead from the FIA and having the support of General Motors’ Cadillac brand, Andretti was unable to surpass the hurdle presented by Formula One Management [FOM], which rebuffed the American’s efforts at the start of 2024.
In the face of the rejection, the Andretti team continued work at pace, setting up a UK base at Silverstone, hiring key staff and working towards a 2026 entry, but its F1 future was by no means guaranteed.
That all changed when Andretti ceased control of his company to Dan Towriss last Autumn and the F1 venture quickly gathered pace.
Rebranded as an official Cadillac entry, the American venture agreed with FOM in November and its 2026 bid was realised.
Mario was supportive of his son throughout the process and while Michale stepped aside, the 1978 F1 champion will serve as a consultant to the Cadillac project.
Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Mario revealed his son decided to step away from Andretti Global for the good of the F1 bid.
“The aim was to get an American team on the grid, and we have achieved that,” Mario said.
“Michael is also happy, even though he has withdrawn from the project.
“He simply said: ‘If I’m the obstacle, then I’ll clear the way’.
“Looking back, we could certainly have done a few things better.
“But I never look back, only forward. In the end, all that matters is whether you achieve the goal.”
General Motors and Cadillac have ‘full commitment’ to F1 – Andretti
With the bid successful, work has continued to ramp up to ensure Cadillac will be ready for its 2026 F1 debut.
That has included striking an engine and gearbox supply deal with Ferrari, ahead of plans to bring a bespoke Cadillac powertrain to the table in 2028.
Speaking of Cadillac’s F1 plans, Mario revealed the American marque is going all-in to make its entry a success.
“Formula 1 can expect full commitment from a giant like General Motors,” he said.
“They have a lot of pride. Look at how they have expanded in GT racing and sports cars and how successful they are there.
“They don’t do things by halves. They are ambitious and have big goals. I am confident that they can achieve this.
“All the manufacturers involved in our sport are serious. Racing is a showcase for their products.”
READ MORE – Mario Andretti gives insight into ideal Cadillac F1 driver line-up
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