US F1 appoints John Anderson as Team Manager
"I've known John and been close with him for nearly 20 years – to be able to hire someone as experienced, as organized and as successful as he is will only enhance our team as we move forward," said US F1 Team Principal Ken Anderson who, despite the matching surname, is no relation. "He is simply the best at what he does and knows what it takes to be successful in motorsport."
John Anderson, originally from Sydney, Australia, first visited the United States in 1980 after some success running a prep and fab shop. "I came to the US for what I thought was a few years and I've never left – and I've had some good runs," he commented.
"Now to be able to have the opportunity to work with America's Formula 1 team, especially with my friend Ken Anderson, is an unbelievable opportunity. Ken's mindset of US F1 – to have an open mind, be flexible and explore best practices – is why I'm here and I want to be a part of this."
The Team Manager role has been one practiced by Anderson since the early 1980s; not only will he be coordinating the team in the US and in Europe, acting as a connection between the engineers and shop staff and spearheading testing, but will be an informal team psychologist. "It's about getting the right group of guys who can work, live and play together, and also understanding where everyone's strengths and weaknesses are," he explained. "Ken and Peter Windsor (Sporting Director) have put together a strong group and I can only help to strengthen the bonds and be a part of America's resurgence in the top motorsport in the world."