Andretti Formula Racing has been approved by the FIA to be the 11th team on the Formula 1 grid. Here are names that could be the face of Michael Andretti’s new team:
There are still many obstacles to hurdle for Andretti Formula Racing to become an F1 reality, but things are looking within touching distance for Michael Andretti. If Andretti can officially join the grid as the 11th constructor, the world of Formula 1 will be shaken and rattled. However, an F1 team requires strong leadership, structure, and talented drivers to be able to survive. Here are the top candidates to lead this new squad:
Driver: Colton Herta
In 2023, Andretti stated that his new team would consist of one American driver. The most obvious candidate to become the face of Andretti Formula Racing is none other than the youngest IndyCar Series race winner and pole-sitter, Colton Herta. Herta (23) has been on Michael Andretti’s radar since he first speculated joining the grid. The driver from California attempted to join the F1 world last season, but the FIA did not grant him a super license. Herta has struggled at times this year in IndyCar, but he is the favorite to earn a spot in Andretti’s driver line-up. Andretti has on the record compared Herta to the likes of Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel:
“The kid [Herta] is for real… I said the same thing about Max when I first saw him. I said the same thing about Sebastian Vettel when he won Monza with Toro Rosso and things like that — I’ve been around long enough to see these things and I haven’t been wrong yet!”
This is high praise from the future owner of the newest F1 team. If things work out for Andretti and if Herta can get out of his current slump, then he could be the lead driver of Andretti Racing.
Driver: Alex Palou
Alex Palou is an IndyCar Series champion and is rated extremely highly in motorsport. He has shown a strong interest in F1 and was linked to McLaren before the two had a falling out recently. Palou is a proven winner with an ambition to make it in Formula 1. He is with Chip Ganassi to defend his title and continue on with another season in IndyCar. If Palou can continue to show dominance, Andretti may open the door to his F1 career.
Driver: Kyle Kirkwood
Another name to watch for is Kyle Kirkwood. Kirkwood is on contract for Andretti in the IndyCar Series and is rated very highly by his team. If Kirkwood can deliver consistent performances up until Andretti Racing joins the grid, then he will definitely be a candidate for the new team.
Manufacturer: Renault or Honda Engines Badged Under Cadillac?
Andretti has partnered with Cadillac to create their potential entry into Formula 1. General Motors has not created the same engines that are currently on the F1 grid. This will likely require a partnership with an engine provider. In June 2023, Andretti had reportedly signed to drive a Renault engine badged under Cadillac. This received much backlash because people consider them to have the slowest engine on the grid. However, in September, there were rumors that Andretti’s deal with Renault was invalid.
This would lead to him having to search for other potential engine providers. The best option for the new team would be to partner with Honda. Honda is a proven winner in Formula 1 and IndyCar, and Andretti would be able to manage a great relationship with them.
Team Principal: Mattia Binotto, Marcin Budkowski
If Andretti wants to create a competitive team, he will need to have the help of experienced F1 personnel. Former Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, is a boss who knows how brutal this motorsport is. Binotto has great engineering knowledge and can help with the transition of creating a team from scratch. He has dealt with other team principals and knows how to handle relationships with the likes of Christian Horner and Toto Wolff. Andretti should make it a priority to reach out to someone as knowledgeable as Binotto in a hurry, because he has been linked to taking over Alpine in replacement of Otmar Szafnauer.
If Binotto is not an option for Andretti, they should look to Alpine’s Marcin Budkowski. Budkowski would be a great addition due to his relationship with Alpine, and F1 experience. It could be very valuable to have a team principal with ties to Renault. Budkowski would fit that role very well and help Andretti compete on the grid. It is unclear who may be available to join Andretti as team principal at the current state, but there will be many figures willing to give it a shot. Keep names like Cyril Abiteboul, Ian James, and Paul Hembery on your radar.
