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Zak Brown, the head of McLaren Racing, joined Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi as the only F1 team leaders to sign Andretti's form in Miami. So, if one is able to demonstrate that, then we should all be sitting on the table and cheer for such an entry. "If a team comes in, how can you demonstrate that you're bringing in more money than it's actually costing? The 11th team means a 10% dilution for everybody else. "We have 10 entries today, we divide the prize fund among those 10 entries," Wolff said. Wolff has yet to see any benefit to expanding the grid to anyone and estimates F1's current successful teams have "put more than a billion into the Formula 1 projects over the years." He figures Andretti involvement will help all existing teams court North American sponsorship. to Europe to drive for McLaren in F1, wants to put Ind圜ar driver Colton Herta of California in his seat.Īndretti maintains he's committed to a true effort, and argues an American team with an American driver can only add to F1's financial worth. Michael Andretti, who spent the 1993 season commuting back and forth from the U.S. The only current American team is Haas F1, which is owned by California businessman Gene Haas, partially headquartered in North Carolina but does not employ any American drivers. But there has not been an American driver in F1 since Alexander Rossi in 2015. Mario Andretti, Michael's father, is the 1978 F1 champion and one of the greatest drivers in motorsports history. By the time Sunday's race began, he felt a lot better about his chances of returning the Andretti name to F1. Horner did not sign.Īndretti didn't even bother going next door to Mercedes, where boss Toto Wolff has not wavered in his opposition to adding teams because he believes that would dilute profits for those on the grid.Īndretti was discouraged but not defeated. He left his conversation with Red Bull principal Christian Horner - held in the outdoor, open area of Red Bull hospitality - with only two signatures.
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He wants into the most exclusive club in motorsports and figured pleading his case to the current team bosses was his best shot.Īndretti carried with him a white Miami Dolphins folder - he said he borrowed it from the promoters of the inaugural Miami Grand Prix last weekend - and inside was a piece of paper asking the 10 current F1 team leaders to support the addition of Andretti Global to the grid.īy the time he made it to the end of the paddock, Andretti's chances seemed grim. (AP) - Michael Andretti walked through the Formula One paddock quite literally going door-to-door.
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