World champion Damon Hill has offered his reaction after F1 hopefuls Andretti opened a new facility at Silverstone. The IndyCar and Formula E team remain determined to secure a spot on the grid despite an initial rejection.
The FIA approved Andretti’s prospective entry for 2025 or 2026, but F1 then blocked their bid. They believed that the American outfit wouldn’t be competitive enough to make their inclusion worthwhile.
However, the team have now opened a new base near Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix. And Hill took to X (formerly Twitter) after the news emerged.
In a statement, they said their preparations for an F1 debut continue ‘at pace’. They believe that having a new centre of operations in Europe, alongside their Indiana HQ, will help them ‘attract the best talent’ in the sport.
Andretti’s backers General Motors intend to build their own power unit for the 2028 season, and F1’s stakeholders have said they would look upon that partnership more favourably. The sport hasn’t welcomed a new team since 2016, when fellow Americans Haas entered the fray.
Damon Hill sends message to Andretti after F1 announcement
Hill appeared to welcome Andretti’s latest move, based on his X post. “Welcome to Silverstone Michael, Mario and Andretti Global,” he wrote.
Mario Andretti won the F1 world championship in 1978 with Team Lotus and remains the last American to take the title. His son Michael runs the team on a day-to-day basis as the CEO.
There were 24 cars in the F1 field between 2010 and 2012 following the entry of Virgin, HRT and Team Lotus. But all three teams would go bust before 2016, and the field has remained at 20 since.
Audi will enter the sport in 2026, but rather than setting up their own team, they will take over from Sauber. Meanwhile, US giants Ford have formed an engine partnership with Red Bull.
Logan Sargeant struggles as F1 seeks US expansion
Formula 1 has tried to significantly increase its popularity in the United States in the last decade or so, adding three American races to the calendar. Austin was the first in 2012, followed by Miami in 2022 and, most recently, Las Vegas.
However, one thing that might be holding the sport back in this particular market is the lack of successful American drivers on the grid. Logan Sargeant is currently in his second year with Williams but has failed to impress.
Team boss James Vowles told him in the winter that he had to be the ‘surprise of the season’ if he wanted to keep his seat for 2025. As it is, he could lose his drive before the year is out amid talk of Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli taking over in September.
In Australia last month, Vowles even relegated Sargeant to the sidelines after a crash for Alex Albon left Williams with only one car running. While the 23-year-old’s future is in serious doubt, the arrival of Andretti could still increase the US presence in F1.
The post ‘Welcome’: Damon Hill issues eight-word reaction as Andretti take new step towards F1 entry appeared first on F1 Oversteer.