Motorsport news | IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin takes swipes at Formula 1 for brutal rejection
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Scott McLaughlin has taken a swipe at Formula 1 after IndyCar team Andretti Global was denied entry into the world championship.
The Andretti family has long fought to enter F1 with support from Cadillac. On Thursday, F1 gave several reasons why the team shouldn’t be admitted.
F1 said it did not believe Andretti would be competitive and would not have enough time to build a car capable of racing at the highest level of motorsport.
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It said Andretti did not have an “understanding of the scope of the challenge involved” in building two new cars in its first two years of existence.
It means that for the foreseeable future, F1 will max out at 20 cars on its grid.
F1 has left the door ajar for an entry in 2028 once General Motors has its engine program up and running.
In the meantime, Andretti will remain in the IndyCar Series – a North American-based single-seater category with upwards of 30 cars.
In a veiled social media post, McLaughlin hit out at F1 for its stance.
“A racing series wants to expand into America. But won’t allow any more American teams in it. Makes sense,” he wrote.
“It’s alright. Take your 10 teams. We will have 27 cars within a second in a few weeks, having zero idea Sunday morning who’s going to win the race. All the very best.”
IndyCar commentator Leigh Diffey gave F1 a whack, noting the short-lived stays of two teams that barely threatened to score points.
“It wasn’t too long ago that there were substandard entities like Caterham and Manor-Marussia running around at the back of the grid but F1 feels rejecting global, iconic brands such as Andretti & GM is a prudent move … hmmm,” he wrote on social media.
IndyCar differs from F1 in so much that IndyCar teams are supplied identical chassis and engines from Honda or Chevrolet whereas F1 teams mostly build their cars from scratch and either manufacturer engines themselves or take supply from other teams.
IndyCar is significantly cheaper than F1 as it’s less of an arms race between teams to develop cars. IndyCar chassis are identical leaving most of the performance difference up to driver ability and car set-up.
F1, by contrast, demands millions be spent on updates to the car to make the fastest widget on the grid.
Andretti is arguably one of the most well-known names in American motorsport alongside the likes of eponymous teams run by Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi.
Andretti competes in a raft of categories including Formula E, Indy NXT, IMSA, Supercars, and Extreme E.
Team boss Michael Andretti took umbrage with F1 and its decision not to let them race.
“Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents,” he said in a statement.
“Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organisations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1, competing alongside the world’s best.
“We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace.
“Andretti Cadillac would also like to acknowledge and thank the fans who have expressed their support.”
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Despite being rejected by F1, the Andretti name remains one of the most successful in motorsport.
Mario Andretti won the 1978 F1 world championship with Lotus. The team has four IndyCar Series titles and five Indianapolis 500 wins.
The Andrettis and their drivers have combined for more than 350 race wins.
