Michael Andretti is on a mission to get his massively profitable group onto the F1 grid, with the most recent twist within the saga seeing US Congress members demand that Liberty Media explain why a position in the paddock was denied earlier this yr.
Of equal significance to Andretti is positioning his group in feeder collection together with F2 and F3, however in response to Michel, there have been no actions on this entrance.
“I learn a couple of issues on Andretti saying that they wished to affix F2 and F3, however we haven’t been involved but,” mentioned Michel. “In all probability it should occur.
“The second factor is that I understood that Andretti was wanting additionally at attainable programmes to System 1 which, in the meanwhile, continues to be not determined.
“Now, if Andretti needs to affix F2 and F3, they need to undergo the identical course of as anyone else as a result of that’s the approach it really works.
“We have now a range course of each three years in each classes. The one in F2 occurred final yr on the finish of 2023, so the following one can be in three years time. For F3, the choice course of goes to be this yr.
“So in the event that they need to be part of, they in fact need to undergo the method.”
Requested by Autosport if Andretti might be able to shortcut the method on account of its dimension on the worldwide motor racing platform, Michel defined: “I feel it’s a query of equity to the opposite groups.
“Many of the groups have been with System 2 for a lot of, a few years now. There have been a couple of adjustments in shareholding of among the groups during the last two seasons as a result of F2 and F3 have gotten a really attention-grabbing enterprise too for group house owners.
“However I’ve to be honest to the prevailing groups.
“In fact, Andretti is an effective title. In fact, Andretti within the case of a common motor racing programme is attention-grabbing. We don’t have an American group in F2, so it ticks a variety of containers.
“However then, sure, it should undergo the identical course of as all people else as a result of it will be utterly unfair to the prevailing groups in any other case.”
Andretti not too long ago opened its headquarters at Silverstone and has begun hiring in preparation for its anticipated F1 mission, regardless of being instructed it won’t be allowed to enter in 2026.
Michael Andretti
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Regardless of the American group’s undoubted pedigree, a spot on the F2 or F3 grid is way from assured, with Michel stating that increasing the F3 grid past 30 automobiles is “utterly out of the query”.
Nevertheless, after conceding extra automobiles might be attainable in F2, he added: “In the mean time, I’m not so inclined to extend the variety of groups.
“Which implies that, to return to Andretti, sure, they’ll attempt to do a take care of an present group or they’ll apply. In the event that they apply, there may be at all times a chance that one group won’t proceed or one group won’t have finished a correct job and, in that case, there’s a likelihood to return in.”