1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve warned Andretti that having “a lot of money” was no guarantee the team would succeed even if it were allowed into F1.
Andretti has been looking to enter F1 for some time and last year partnered with General Motors brand Cadillac in a new attempt to gain entry.
Jacques Villeneuve distressed by Andretti’s F1 rejection
Mr Andretti’s proposal was accepted by F1’s governing body the FIA in October last year, but was rejected in January by the sport’s commercial rights holders, who said the team would not bring enough value to the grid. Ta.
Nevertheless, Andretti is moving ahead with his plans, opening a new facility at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, last week.
Team owner Michael Andretti went on to make a series of bold statements, revealing that development work is already underway on a General Motors/Cadillac engine for 2028 and that the team is in F1’s direct feeder category. They promised to make their presence felt in F2 and F3.
Recommended by PlanetF1.com
Follow PlanetF1.com’s WhatsApp channel for all the latest F1 news!
F1 Quiz: Do you remember the finish order of the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix?
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Villeneuve was divided over Andretti’s failed application, insisting F1 management must have made the decision for a reason.
Asked if F1 was right to reject Andretti, he said: “It depends.”
“As fans, we would like them to be there, but all we can say is that [FOM] They had information that we didn’t have about how the team was built.
“We don’t know. All we know is what we see in the media, and what we see in the media today is very dangerous because who has an online account? But be a journalist, because whatever you say suddenly becomes the truth.
“So it’s very difficult to start making decisions based on that because we don’t have all the information.
“But obviously it’s a big racing company, they have cars everywhere and they have a huge amount of money.
“Does that make them a team with the potential to win in F1? No, it’s possible, but no one knows.
“A lot of people have tried to break their teeth. I created the BAR team with Craig Pollock, which today is Mercedes.
“It’s not easy. Even if you have the right people on board, it’s not really easy. So obviously they’re trying to figure out what we don’t know or otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to do.” I kind of knew what was going to happen.”
Villeneuve’s latest comments come after he questioned Audi’s motives for joining the existing Sauber team in F1 in 2026, suggesting the project is in the same direction as the Alpine Renault team, which has yet to score points this season. This suggests the possibility of proceeding.
He said: “They’re going to be joining a team that hasn’t done anything good for years. And you can’t invent know-how. It’s something you build over time.
“You can see that with Williams. It’s going to be good for a while, but you’re going to have to pay for the paid drivers, and that payment is going to be delayed even more. And now the team is rebuilding, but it’s not going to happen overnight. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time.
“So how are they participating? Are they participating in the same way that Renault and Alpine joined F1 just to create an image, or are they actually participating? Are you trying to become a racer and race and win? We don’t know.
“The danger when a builder comes in is that they can easily decide in five minutes, ‘OK, that’s it, goodbye’ and walk away without a care in the world.
“They’re a great team for the sport, but they’re also very dangerous in that respect. A team like Williams, on the other hand, you can’t leave.
“It exists with and because of F1. What if Williams quits F1? Nothing.
“So I have peace of mind that they will find a way to persevere to get better, because that’s what feeds them.”
Read next: Adrian Newey’s ‘strange’ warning should prompt F1 to reconsider ahead of 2026
