At the age of 85, motorsports legend Mario Andretti shows no sign of slowing down. Still active in Formula 1 (as an advisor to the new Cadillac F1 team), Andretti joined Károly Méhes for an exclusive interview to share his opinions on the current state of the sport and reminisce about his racing days.
Original racing photos kindly supplied by Vroomfoto
Formula 1 has always had a presence in the USA, but it wasn’t always that popular. Why do you think that was the case?
In the USA there have always been many different kinds of racing. A professional driver could have a successful career racing in IndyCar, NASCAR or sports cars without even thinking about Formula 1. But Formula 1’s popularity has exploded dramatically in the last couple of years, especially since Drive to Survive. This series has awakened an all-new audience in a way we’ve never seen before. It’s wonderful to see. And now we have three races in the USA.
I fell in love with F1 when I was a teenager and still living in Italy. [14-year old Andretti attended the 1954 Italian Grand Prix at Monza as a spectator]. When I moved to America, F1 was always in my mind, even though I was competing in other series and having some good success. I never stopped looking for an opportunity to drive in Formula 1. Then I met Colin Chapman and also got to know the people at Ferrari. It was very encouraging to have contact with the top teams.
You finally got your chance with Lotus in 1968, starting on pole for your first race at Watkins Glen. Did you enjoy racing there?
I liked Watkins Glen. I drove both of the track figurations, and also raced there in sports cars and IndyCars. Attendance at Watkins Glen was very good, it was a major event. Later we had Long Beach and it was popular as well, but after this we raced on different street circuits and it didn’t work, and we didn’t know why.
You also tasted success at Long Beach, did you like this circuit?
Long Beach was my favorite type of street circuit. You need to control your aggression and also use every inch of the circuit, right up to the walls. I love the challenge and also had some good fortune there. [Andretti won the 1977 USA West Grand Prix at Long Beach for Lotus.] Long Beach is still a popular circuit in IndyCar. This race gets the second biggest audience after the Indy 500.
You drove your last F1 race in the USA, at the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas. How was that circuit?
The circuit in Vegas was very restrictive because it was really short. It would have been better for go karts! This was my last race in Formula 1, but I was not finished yet because I went back to IndyCar, where I won 18 more races and the championship!
American teams have come and gone in Formula 1 over the years, never with much success. You even encouraged your IndyCar team, Parnelli, to join Formula 1. How was that experience?
The problem with Parnelli was that the only one who really cared about the program was me…! There was some excitement from others involved, but their efforts were not good enough. After doing a few races with them in 1975, they decided to pull out of Formula 1 without telling me!
I remember sitting on the grid in Long Beach in 1976, and one of the broadcasters asked me how I felt about Team Parnelli pulling out of Formula 1 after the race. I said it was news to me! Ultimately it worked out well for me, because I was able to join Colin Chapman at Lotus and we had a lot of success in the next few years.
You’ve been involved in many projects to promote Formula 1 in the USA. Do you think you’ve helped things go in the right direction?
I don’t know if I had any influence, but my love for Formula 1 never vanished. My life in motor racing was born out of a love for Formula 1, and this sport gave me the opportunity to accomplish my biggest dream of becoming world champion. I’ll always be positive about Formula 1, because it’s my life and I’m still a huge fan.
Formula 1 is currently racing at three circuits in the USA, in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas. Is there room for any more?
I must say that three races is very ambitious, but it’s working well. I don’t think we need more, because you run the risk of oversaturating the market. I think we have to be satisfied with three venues. It’s not easy to choose between the three circuits, though I have a soft spot for Austin, as I was a consultant during the early days of Circuit of The Americas. It’s a very interesting track. Miami is interesting as well, the organizers have invested a lot of money and are doing a great job. The race in Las Vegas takes over the whole city, and I think that race will be here for a long time to come.
A new team from the USA will be joining the grid next year. Do you regret that it is Team Cadillac and not Team Andretti?
All of these things are out of my control. The F1 project was started by my son, Michael. After he retired from racing, he always had ambitions to become a team owner. He had great successes with his IndyCar team. I never shared his ambition to become a team owner but I’m very proud of what he has achieved. I told him I was ready to help in any way, but I didn’t want a job.
I was only ever interested in driving, but if you ask my opinion, for example about the driver situation, I am ready to offer my advice. And that’s how it’s worked out with Cadillac. Michael is no longer involved in the project, but they asked me to be an adviser. I didn’t want a fancy job title or to have to make big decisions. If I want to go to a Formula 1 race next year, at least I know that I will have a motorhome to go to!
Is Cadillac ready to step up to Formula 1 next year?
I think everything is going in the right direction. Cadillac is very committed and the operation at Silverstone is flourishing. It’s great to see how everyone is full of positive energy. I am a small part of it, but I am glad to be involved.
The people running the team know their job and know the size of the challenge they are facing. I know they are working hard and doing everything they can to achieve results, and that’s all you can ask. You cannot work miracles, but every team faces the same challenge next year with the new regulations. I’m also really thrilled that the team has managed to secure Ferrari engines.
Were you consulted about Cadillac’s choice of drivers for 2026?
I was asked my opinion, and I agreed that Pérez and Bottas were the perfect choices. They have the two best available drivers, as well as a great third driver in Colton Herta. Pérez and Bottas have worked with top teams, won races and are very experienced. I don’t think a new team could do any better. It’s wonderful that they were available and were willing to join the team.
How do you feel about the recent form of Ferrari?
I had good relations with Enzo and will always have a special love for Ferrari. I won my first Formula 1 race with Ferrari and also ended my career there. Regarding the current situation, I would love to see Ferrari doing better. They definitely have capable drivers.
Finally, what do you expect from the rest of the 2025 F1 season?
McLaren finds itself in a fantastic situation. The car is performing at a very high level and they have two drivers who are both capable of winning. Oscar Piastri seems to have the upper hand after Lando’s retirement at Zandvoort, but as a team they do a phenomenal job. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the team’s performance improve so dramatically!
