An enduring question is how to expand interest in Formula 1 among America’s sporting public. One way is to expand the number of races held here. Another is to expand American presence on the track. Both options may be in the offing, and one is a mouth-watering possibility.
There is a good chance there will be two United States Grand Prix races next season, one in Austin, Texas, and the second one in Miami, Florida. And after experiencing public hiccups associated with the Rich Energy saga, Haas Racing seems to have financial footing.
Is another American sponsorship on the horizon? That’s possible, and it’s a big name, too–Andretti.
Michael Andretti (photo, Racer)
Michael Andretti already has had success in Indy car racing, and his father, Mario, won an F1 world championship back in 1978. Michael also had a go at F1 racing but only lasted six months on the rugged Ron Dennis-led McLaren team. But he’s now interested in giving F1 another try, this time as an owner.
What are the odds of that happening? For starters, only three teams could be either taken over completely or available via merger. The idea of a full takeover is dicey, given unsuccessful attempts at USF1, Copersucar, HRT, and Caterham. A better option is to offer a cash infusion to stabilize an existing team financially.
With that in mind, let’s look at what if’s. One option, a Williams/Andretti merger, sounds perfect, at least on paper. It has the ring of two great racing families, and the extra cash flow would give an American driver a chance and (not incidentally) probably boot Nicholas Latifi and his money out. However, the squad might take this deal. It has already been bought out by another American company, Dorilton Capital, and extra cash flow by Andretti might be good but perhaps not necessary.
Another option is Alfa Romeo-Sauber. The idea of gaining one of the best wind tunnels in the business is perfect for whoever would be selected as the aerodynamicist. Still, the team has more connections with Ferrari than even Haas and Herr Peter Sauber. Even having an American takeover of his veteran team would make him upset–never mind what would happen to the sponsor–which has saved Sauber from losing the team. And it would be too expensive even for Sauber to sell out to Andretti, who could not afford it.
Courtesy The Sports Grail
So, the favorite had to be Haas. To prevent a futile takeover by Dimitry Mazepin and his group, Andretti could co-sponsor the American team and keep all the people in Kannapolis, North Carolina, and Banbury, England–and, yes, even retain Gunther Steiner.
Once the team loses its Russian sponsor and Mazepin, this would be a great opportunity to enter Colton Herta and possibly Alexander Rossi into the driving frame, which can certainly give the sport an extra boost in the land where there is limited support for the sport.
Will it (or anything) happen? Only time will tell.
