Cadillac has revealed that its first-ever Formula 1 car has been named in honour of 1979 World Champion Mario Andretti, ahead of its debut season commencing next week.
Andretti, who celebrates his 86th birthday tomorrow [February 28], was a crucial figure in the formation of the team, as it previously attempted to enter under the eponymous team, headed up by son Michael.
And the team, owned by the TWG group, which also owns Cadillac, has recognised Andretti, still the last American to win a Grand Prix, by naming its inaugural chassis the Mario Andretti Cadillac 26, or MAC-26 for short.
“Racing has been the joy of my life. It is the ultimate compliment that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team sees those years as meaningful and worthy of recording with this honour,” Andretti said in a statement.
“I cherish the opportunity that it gives me to have a lasting bond with F1 and am genuinely appreciative of everyone who continues to acknowledge my part in racing history.”
Cadillac’s Team Principal Graeme Lowdon said: “Mario Andretti is a legend of Formula 1. A true racer who knows how to win and push the limits of what is possible.
“But more than that, he is an incredible man with a gentle heart who believes in everyone’s ability to shape their own path.
“At the start of my own journey with the team, he asked me not to let him down – I hope that he will be proud to see the Cadillac Formula 1 Team car bearing his name finally take to the grid.”
Andretti made his F1 debut in 1968, completing cameo appearances for Lotus over the next two years. A first victory, with Ferrari, in South Africa in 1971, set him off on the path to more established appearances in the sport.
A further five seasons with Lotus beckoned from 1976, and won the Drivers’ title in 1979, becoming the last and, so far, only the second American to win it.
With his F1 journey over after 1982, Andretti switched to IndyCars, and completed 12 seasons with the Newman/Haas team, winning the title in 1984.
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