Guenther Steiner has put down social media talks regarding Andretti taking over Haas amid report of the latter looking to move into F1.
Former F1 driver and Indycar driver, Michael Andretti, has hinted on rejoining the Formula 1 world, but this time as a team owner. Michael, son of F1 1979 world champion Mario Andretti, had made his F1 debut with Marlboro McLaren in 1993. After unsuccessful races and multiple car retirements, Michael was replaced with Mikka Hakkinen.
Though his F1 career had not gone the way he would’ve hoped, his return to Indy Racing would eventually place him in third for most number of all-time victories in championship car racing. His success in Indycar would extend to his team, Andretti Autosport, which has won multiple championships.
If Andretti joins F1, it would either be a buyout or a partnership, as reported by Racer. This makes the most economic sense, with the most probable being with Williams, Alfa Romeo-Sauber, or Haas, as all are owned by investment firms, but the trio won’t be a straightforward situation, considering all the tie-ups they have.
Looking more into it, the Williams option can be thought about, especially after they had the ownership change in 2020 with Dorilton Capital coming on board. Over at Alfa Romeo, its close partnership with Ferrari, and Sauber Motorsport running the tea, would make coming to an agreement extremely difficult for Andretti.
There is some nostalgia with Mario Andretti previously racing for Alfa Romeo in 1991, which does add to the appeal. Its ownership by Longbow Finance S.A also makes this deal possible, but again, still complex. As for Haas, owned by Gene, is one that to many seems too obvious of a choice – as has been the case for some seasons now.
Them being the only American F1 team on the grid does give it an appeal, i.e. racing under the American flag. However, the current biggest investor, Uralki, owned by Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin’s father, Dmitry Mazepin, is long said to eventually take over – although the team has categorically denied any of it.
While Racer noted of the situation being a ‘second F1 team’ on the grid, the social media inevitably linked it to Haas. When asked by FormulaRapida.net regarding the general intention of Andretti thinking about Formula 1 and the frustration of the move getting linked with their team, even though, they are not for sale, Steiner reckoned he is not too bothered by it.
“I don’t know what Mike [Michael] is doing or if he wants to have an F1 team,” said Steiner. “I don’t know that. I haven’t spoken to Mike for a while now, so I have no problem if there is a second [US-licensed] F1 team. [I know] we are not for sale, so I don’t know where that [buying out Haas] comes from.
“[To be honest], I don’t really care about what people are saying [on social media]. If I would listen to everything what was said, I would have a lot of things to be done. I mean, I know the facts and I live with the facts. What social media says, I mean, I understand that because Mike is American that it’s linked together, so somebody put one and one together and came out with three,” summed up Steiner.
The article was written by Selena Aburas
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