Exclusive
Mario Andretti (84) hopes to return to F1: 'Get it properly set up'
- Ludo van Denderen
Mario Andretti is 84 years old, but anyone who sees him or talks to him would guess he is much younger. The 1978 Formula 1 world champion is extremely fit. Two years ago, he even drove laps in a real F1 car. If that opportunity were to arise again, Andretti would certainly not say 'no'.
In the run-up to the 2022 US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, Andretti got the chance to drive the McLaren MP4/28 around the track, just as he did a week earlier at Laguna Seca. He took to the track with McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who drove the McLaren MP4/27. Andretti certainly did not take it easy.
Andretti felt like he was in a jelly bowl
GPblog asked if it was time for a few laps in a Formula 1 car again. There was a sparkle in his eye. "I have to get fitted up properly this time to do it right," the American said. "I still thank Zak Brown for giving me that opportunity but at the same time we should have taken more time to get it properly set up. It was like being in a jelly bowl. I just could not really get the satisfaction that I wanted out of it and it's a shame."
He may be at a respectable age, but wanting to drive F1 cars fast is still something Andretti wants to do. "Yeah, of course. That's what we want," smiled Andretti.
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton