McLaren CEO finds Andretti-Cadillac F1 proposal 'very compelling'

McLaren CEO compelled by Andretti proposal

Brown and Andretti are business partners through Supercars Andretti Walkinshaw United in Australia, so the McLaren boss's outspoken support comes as no surprise. It forms a counterpoint to the reactions of the bulk of current F1 teams, who are less keen on Andretti's arrival.

"The Andretti name’s got such a rich history in multiple forms of motorsport," Brown is quoted by The Race. He also praises General Motors, which is also active in IndyCar. He calls the partnership with GM and Cadillac promising for Andretti's potential participation. "I think he’s put forward a very compelling proposition and I think it shows the growth of Formula 1."

He continued: "We haven’t had a new team in a long time, since Haas, and so it’s just great to see Formula 1 attracting new markets, new teams, new sponsors, new partner base." In the United States in particular, the sport has seen tremendous growth, partly due to the success of the Netflix series Drive to Survive.

Brown therefore welcomes Andretti's arrival, although the American still has a lot of hurdles to clear before he can be added to the entry list: for instance, the other teams still need to be convinced. "I think it’s great to see they want to join the sport, I think he’s put together a compelling team," concluded the McLaren CEO.

Now that Andretti has the backing of Cadillac and General Motors, positive sounds are also coming from the FIA, whose president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body is planning a procedure for potential new teams. Alpine is also behind Andretti and would let Renault supply the engines.