Implications of Michael Andretti’s Exit for His F1 Bid

Michael Andretti, a prominent figure in racing and global business, is stepping back from his ownership role in Andretti Global, as confirmed by a company spokesperson to The Drive on Friday afternoon. Despite this change, Andretti, son of esteemed Formula 1 champion Mario Andretti, will remain involved as a strategic advisor and key ambassador. The implications of this transition for the team’s aspirations to join Formula 1 in 2026 are yet to be determined.

“Michael’s intention has been to shift toward a more strategic position within Andretti Global while reducing his day-to-day operational involvement with the race team,” the spokesperson stated. “He and Dan Towriss have been developing a new structure that Michael feels optimistic about, believing it will lead to a bright future.”

“Michael will still be engaged as a strategic advisor and key ambassador. We will provide further updates in the coming weeks after Michael and Dan have a chance to discuss this with the team,” they added.

On Friday morning, Sportico reported on Andretti’s transition, citing three sources familiar with the situation. It is anticipated that Towriss, who leads Gainbridge and Group 1001, may step into Andretti’s role; however, this has yet to be officially confirmed.

In April of the previous year, Andretti Global, formerly known as Andretti Autosport, announced Towriss as a new co-owner. The news of this ownership change came almost unexpectedly when Towriss joined Andretti in receiving the owner’s trophy at IndyCar’s Long Beach Grand Prix. Despite a busy schedule with his business interests, Towriss consistently attends most, if not all, races in the series. Given today’s announcement from Andretti Global, it appears that both Andretti and Towriss have been preparing for this change for quite some time.

What Does This Mean for the Andretti Cadillac F1 Team?

It is still too early to make definitive predictions about the future, but some educated speculation is possible. Those familiar with the history of Andretti’s attempts to join Formula 1 know that Liberty Media’s rejection of their entry for 2025 felt quite personal. They argued that Andretti would not be competitive and could diminish the league’s value while taking focus and funds away from established teams. This assessment only holds if we assume that all current F1 teams are fully competitive and equally contribute to the league’s financial pool.

The underlying reason for their bid being dismissed seems tied to a personal conflict between Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei and the Andretti family. For instance, Maffei was quoted at this year’s Miami Grand Prix stating, “Mario, I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to see that Michael never enters Formula 1.” Interestingly, neither Maffei nor Liberty Media have denied this statement.

Moreover, there was a previous incident where F1 contacted General Motors to seek partnerships—with everyone except Andretti. This clearly illustrates the lengths to which they would go.

By stepping down from his ownership position and allowing someone not part of the Andretti family to lead, Michael is making a strategic decision that could improve the chances for Andretti Cadillac. If Liberty Media has a strong dislike for Mario and Michael, they may be more favorable toward Towriss. After all, he has already been a significant financial contributor as a sponsor in F1; any financial support is beneficial.

There’s a possibility that Maffei and F1 might be open to welcoming Andretti Cadillac, provided an Andretti is not in charge. Changing the company’s leadership is a positive step, albeit a bittersweet one. The racing scene is challenging enough without such melodrama. Nonetheless, the Andretti family—comprising Mario, Michael, and Marco, who left full-time racing a few years ago—has positively contributed to the motorsport industry. They create jobs, attract sponsors, and continue to elevate motorsports globally through their involvement in IndyCar, Indy NXT, Formula E, Extreme E, IMSA, Super Copa, and Australian Supercars.

Perhaps a year from now, we might include Formula 1 among their achievements.