11 August 2023 , 18:32
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Mario Andretti suggested his son Michael would be interested if Renault was to put its Alpine Formula 1 team up for sale.
The team is in a state of flux, having lost a number of key personnel over the last 18 months. The latest to go were team principal Otmar Szafnauer and long-serving sporting director Alan Permane, the latter axed after 34 years at Enstone.
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko said recently that carmaker Renault should consider a sale to Andretti, who is very keen to join the sport. "Andretti should buy the Alpine team. That would be best served for everyone. Formula 1 would keep its 10 teams, Andretti could finally get in and Renault would still be involved," he said.
The American wants to create a new team from scratch and an Andretti Autosport bid, supported by General Motors through its Cadillac brand, is lodged with the FIA. And if that plan fails, then the alternative strategy may be to buy one of the existing teams.
Andretti Snr, 83, said: "We're open to any opportunity," when posed such a scenario by RacingNews365. But he did add: "A lot of it in that respect has been exhausted already quite honestly as far as buying another team."
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There is currently no suggestion that Renault might be considering putting the team up for sale. But there is no doubt that it is currently causing a huge headache for the French carmaker's executives, having let Szafnauer and Permane leave over differences of opinion regarding the timeline for the success it craves.
As for Andretti, the American's bid is one of half-a-dozen understood to have been lodged with the FIA through its Expressions of Interest process. It is also understood that the bid is among the most compelling, with the governing body particularly excited at the prospect of another automotive giant like GM joining F1.
The outcome of the process was due to be made public by the end of last July, but Andretti said this decision is now expected next month. "We've done it all and now it is in their hands and it is just a waiting situation now, but we should know something shortly," he said.
"There is not a specific timeline, but we have been told early September [to expect a decision]. Not only [is joining the grid in 2025] beneficial, but it is a key factor. That is something that's been put forward quite strongly and I think it makes sense. At first, [we were targeting] 2024, but as the process dragged on, 2025 became more feasible, and so that is what we are working towards."