Motorsport legend and 1978 Formula One world champion Mario Andretti says that his role with with the new Cadillac Formula One Team will be wide ranging.
Speaking to Paddock Eye on Tuesday morning, Andretti joked that he was going to be part of the Cadillac F1 Team weather General Motors liked it or not.
Andretti revealed that he will assist the team in selecting their two drivers for 2026 and that they will look at Formula One veterans and rookies too.
Andretti confirmed to Paddock Eye that the team plans to have at least one American driver and that they will look at the junior formulaes such as F2 and F3 to find the best talent possible.
When it comes to who will supply engines to the team, Mario smiles and says that it would be great to have Ferrari power their entry for the first two years and that he is hopeful as they have a great relationship with Motorsports legend.
Speaking about how much the announcement on Monday meant to him, Mario told us that it gets rid of the anxiety.
We have been looking forward to this announcement to make it official as it puts a lot more meaning into everything.
Mario said that he was asked if he slept at all on Monday night to which he replied very well.
When we asked him about what his new role will entail, Mario said that he will be involved in a lot of the decision making and will express his views.
Andretti says that he will give recommendations when he feels it is right and proper.
Mario said that he is included in the entire process and that position hasn’t changed since the very beginning of this entire project.
Andretti says that he is just happy that he is included as an advisor to the team.
Speaking about the arrival of Rob White and Pat Symonds within the technical department, Andretti says that the team are arming themselves with experienced people and that Graeme Lowdon has done a phenomenal job so far with the team in England.
One thing that Mario says he really appreciates is the fact that they were able to sign some key people even before they knew that they were going to get the green light on the project and it speaks volumes about this new adventure and they have been blessed with who they have so far.
Having everything official now, puts a new energy into the project and it assures a future for everyone who is involved.
Andretti revealed that Graeme Lowdon has been with the project right from the outset and the very beginning and he has been Andretti’s ‘boots on the ground‘.
Mario said that he visited the team in Silverstone he was impressed with the excitement and energy that everyone showed.
We are in a good place right now that it is official and it shows the commitment.
Speaking about the potential for a partnership with Ferrari, Mario says that is the team’s preference but that there is nothing official yet but that it makes a lot of sense.
Andretti says that a potential partnership with Ferrari would mean a lot to him personally.
Andretti says that the engine partnership is very important for the first two years as they want to be on the grid in 2026 hopefully with a Ferrari engine and than they will move on to Cadillac in 2028.
Speaking about Cadillac’s entry to Formula One, Andretti says that it creates a historic moment in the sport.
They, (Cadillac) have never been officially involved in that and I go back to the 60’s with Zora Dunlov, the father of the Corvette. We were at Riverside at the CanAm race and I said, Zora you must get General Motors, Cadillac involved in Formula One officially. He said Mario, I am trying, so I am proud that somehow we are connected with that directly. This really is truly an historical moment for Formula One to have Cadillac officially a part of Formula One as an entry.
Speaking about Michael and whether he had spoken to him about the position at Cadillac Mario said that the pair are in constant talks and that they speak about everything.
Mario says that while his role with the Cadillac F1 Team is now official he was going to be around whether GM wanted him or not.
We ended our conversation with Mario’s thoughts on Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou who claimed his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.
Mario says that he was absolutely awesome and he is obviously a special talent, no question. He, (Palou) has demonstrated that over and over and he has really has got his arms around ovals now too which is even more dangerous for the competition.
INDYCAR is very fortunate as a series to have so many great talents capable of winning races deep in the field. That series is looking good right now as well.