Mario Andretti has admitted that his son Michael Andretti's involvement may have been a major obstacle in getting the Cadillac Formula 1 project onto the grid.
Initially, the FIA-approved Andretti-Cadillac entry faced fierce resistance from F1 owner Liberty Media and the ten existing teams. Reports suggested that Liberty CEO Greg Maffei personally told Mario Andretti that the entry would never be accepted as long as Michael was involved.
This led to a major strategic shift—Michael stepped aside, and the Andretti name was dropped from the team, which will now debut in 2026 as Cadillac F1.
"The goal was to get an American team on the starting line, and we achieved that," Mario told Auto Motor und Sport.
"Michael is happy too, although he has withdrawn from the project. He simply said, 'If I am the obstacle, then I will clear the way.'"
Liberty and the F1 teams were reportedly frustrated by Michael Andretti's aggressive and outspoken approach to securing an entry.
"Looking back, we could certainly have done some things better," Mario admitted. "But I never look back, always forward.
"In the end, all that matters is whether you reach the goal."
Despite the Andretti name being absent, the 1978 world champion insists he's not bothered.
"It's about the cause, no matter what it is called," he said. "The important thing is that it is successful.
"The project would not have been born without us, and it would not have made it to General Motors without us. It would have been a big mistake to turn us down. That would not have been well received in America.
"This is not a flash in the pan, but a long-term commitment."
With Cadillac's F1 debut now secured, Mario says there is fresh energy within the team, which will enter the sport using Ferrari customer engines from 2026.
"Now the engineers know that they are working on something that will actually be available in 2026," he said. "Before, there were no guarantees, just the belief that everything would turn out well."
He also believes that Cadillac's timing is perfect, as Formula 1's all-new regulations in 2026 will allow the team to start on a more level playing field.
"The new regulations force everyone to start from scratch. That will help us," he said.
"It would have been harder if we had entered at a time when the rules had already been stable for three to four years.
Starting in 2026 gives us a better chance to start on a reasonable basis. We also benefitted from the fact that we were able to prepare a lot because we were not falling under the wind tunnel and budget cap regulations."
