Formula 1 News: Andretti Global Opens New Facility at Silverstone
Andretti Global have embarked on the next stage of their preparations to enter the FIA Formula One World Championship with the opening of a new facility at Silverstone Park, UK.
Joined by the existing Andretti Cadillac UK workforce of approximately 80 people, they had the honor today of inaugurating this new British home for their wider Andretti family.
The new 48,000 square foot building is a milestone for Andretti Global. It is an independent property in its own name with the possibility to scale up activities as the situation evolves. The flexible space will house manufacturing facilities, including pattern, model and machine shops, ADM, electronics, R&D and additional office and meeting facilities. This new space will continue to work hand in hand with their principal Andretti site in Indiana, and our Formula E facility in Banbury and will be a collaborative site for our global family of race teams.
The team will also eventually take over an adjacent 70,000-square-foot building.
The team continues to target an entry in 2026, should an agreement with F1 be reached.
Despite the lack of confirmation of an entry, it is pushing ahead with its plans, and the new facility is the highest-profile sign thus far that its ambition to join the grid is undimmed.
To date, the F1® project has been split between operations in Silverstone, Indiana and at the GM Tech Center in North Carolina.
Their preparations began some time ago with a focus on critical activities such as assembling key staff and focusing on long lead-time activities including aerodynamic design, mechanical design and vehicle dynamics. The new facility will be completed in phases according to commercial and sporting needs and workforce requirements.
They have said that their work continues at pace – this new facility embodies that work. While they are building an American works team, having a European base is a great way to attract the best in F1® talent and install state-of-the-art machinery.
💬 “It’s important to have a presence here”.
An exciting day opening our new facility at Silverstone, which will support our HQ in Indianapolis. pic.twitter.com/se8VM0ZGY6
— Andretti Global (@AndrettiGlobal) April 10, 2024
“F1 is obviously the pinnacle of auto racing in the world,” Michael Andretti told a gathering of team staff at Wednesday’s ceremony.
“We’re in all different types of racing series, but to be in F1 is at the top. And so that’s why I think for our brand, it’d be huge.
“And it’ll just complete our goal, and that is to be in every single major sporting racing event in the world. And then obviously, getting to F1 is the top of that.
“So it’s a big goal, it’s been a goal of ours for a few years now. And we are right there, we’re going to be there. And we feel very strongly that we’re going to be there.
“And we’re building a fantastic team as well, this is something that’s going to be unique to F1, to build a real F1 team from scratch with great brains.
“This is something that I think could catch a lot of people off-guard when we do finally get on the grid.”
Andretti Global partner Dan Towriss stressed that the commissioning of the new UK base was a key moment in the team’s history.
“I’d say an important step is today, it’s opening our facility in Silverstone,” he said.
“It’s also continuing to acquire the talent necessary, to have the people, the financial resources, the technical resources able to have a competitive team. And so we’re assembling the resources.
“Michael and I and Mario have a few things to do behind the scenes, but we’re going to take care of business there. And so while that’s happening, we’re continuing to build the team.”
Regarding the Cadillac partnership Towriss said: “The collaboration with General Motors is fantastic, hearing how everybody’s working together, across time zones. Technology allows things to happen in real time, it’s so exciting. And so just to continue to capitalise on that opportunity.
“We just want to keep building. This is an important step today, and we’ll continue to build. We’ve got a facility in Fishers that’s being built as well, just to make sure that we have a world-class facility for world-class people to build a world-class team.”
Michael Andretti stressed that being able to start afresh was a key advantage for the new project.
“I think one thing is we are building from scratch,” he said. “So we’re building a team with new ideas. I think some of the old teams that you join, they’re already set in their ways.
“And we can go and design this exactly the way we want it, and do it in a new modern way. And I think there could be a huge advantage.
“And then having as a partner GM, who is as excited as we all are about getting out there and showing their technology, when we’re going to bring all that together, we’ll bring in something that’s really unique.
“Along with another thing that’s ever been done, and I think it’s going to be a big story, it’s going to be an all-American team in the end, with the car being built in the US, with an American engine, American owners and eventually American drivers. So it’s always cool to be doing something that’s never been done before.”
Andretti explained why the team’s still expanding despite being rejected.
“We are still working along with FOM and we will show that we are bringing a lot to the party,” Andretti told Sky Sports F1.
General Motors is huge coming to the party. They are not just coming to be here, they are coming here to be a big part of our team, and I think it’s not been understood yet how big that is.
“I think once everybody understands what we are really putting together it’ll be a point where they can’t say no.”
FOM’s indicated it might be more interested once General Motors delivers its planned 2028 engine project, but Andretti is still pushing for a 2026 entry with Renault power.
“They [General Motors] are currently building an engine. They are already registered to do it,” Andretti added.
“So we will have an engine in ’28, but obviously we need to build to get there. To just, all of a sudden, show up in ’28 with a new engine and no team, we need two years to build there to get there that when we do get our own engine the team’s ready to go and be competitive.
“So we are not naive in any way in that way.
“One thing is General Motors, it’s not something that’s small. General Motors has never been in Formula 1 so to have them come with us says something because they were not just going to do it just on their own, they wanted to do it with a partnership like us.
“So I think the whole way we’re going about it is something that’s never been done before and that’s going to be huge for Formula 1, especially in the United States with having an all-American car being built in America with American owners, American engine and American driver.
“It’s never been done before, and I think with the American market which is still very much untapped it’s only going to help it explode. So to us, it’s a no-brainer, and I think to almost anybody you talk to it’s a no-brainer, so we’ve still got to talk to FOM and get them to understand that it’s going to be better for everybody.”