Andretti Global has been trying to join Formula 1 for quite a while and after last year’s failed attempt to buy Sauber, Mario Andretti announced with a tweet his son Michael “has applied to the FIA to field a new F1 team starting in 2024” and that he is “awaiting the FIA's determination”.

An FIA spokesperson, however, has told The Race on Saturday that “the FIA is not currently in a position to consider or comment on any expressions of interest or applications received from potential new entrant teams in respect of the FIA Formula One World Championship.”

In an interview published on the same day, Mario Andretti talked about the steps the group has been taking in order to debut in F1 with its own team.

“It’s in there, it’s absolutely with the key people. All of this has been going on and at the moment I think it’s a matter of them getting approval from the teams and all of that what has to happen. There’s several steps that they have to take which is part of it. I’ve been in touch with Bernie (Ecclestone, former F1 chairman) — he and I have been speaking and I’ve been getting a lot of guidance as well. He’s the one who implemented a lot of these rules,” he said.

“We’re on it in all those aspects — we’re not going in here blindly. Anything that has been asked of us — guarantees and whatever — we comply. So if there’s anything more they need from us, we’re ready to respond. That’s the way it is, that’s where we are.”

Asked whether Michael would be able to pay the $200 million entry into F1, in case it wouldn’t be waived with agreement, he replied:

“Yes, yes. Like I say, we’re going into this thing with our eyes wide open and we know some of the prerequisites. I don’t think Michael is asking for any special favors — we need to comply with whatever we need to comply to and go on. It’s as simple and as complicated as that, but we know what we are getting into.”

Andretti Autosport is currently racing in different motorsport categories, including Indycar, Formula E and Extreme E. With the Extreme E team being based in the UK (Dorset) it has been suggested that an eventual F1 team could be located outside of the US as well.

Something that Andretti denies, as, he argues, it “would be a totally different scale. This would be a whole new-scale operation.”

“We’re not going to operate out of the U.S. Michael’s whole plan is to expand all operations, expand even the facility in Indianapolis where we’re going to have much more capability to be able to manufacture aspects of it, not relying on other vendors. But the base operation, engineering, everything is going to be out of the UK.”

Ties with America go beyond that, as he confirmed the intention of opening up chances for young American drivers to debut in Formula 1, maybe even by starting out their very own F2 and F3 teams.

“Michael is a great believer of that, cultivating talent. He’s done that in the Indy series, bringing them through Indy Lights and all of those farm programs.”

“That’s another thing — you don’t want to put the cart before the horse but he says once we’re in there in the series, he says we’re going to field a Formula 2 and Formula 3 team,” he explained.

“This is long, long, long-term planning. And how many Formula 1 teams do that? Not too many. But they will and that’s what Michael has done. How many teams in IndyCar are doing that? Not too many, but Michael is doing it. That’s his way of going about it, but he’s all-in in this sport.”

“He has big plans for the future, for as long as he is able to participate in this sport. He’s young enough so I think it’s individuals like Michael who can provide stability in this sport, because like I say we don’t come and go. It’s all we do, it’s all we know.”

First driver we could see on track if Andretti were to make it to F1 would probably be Colton Herta, who was already rumored to be their choice had their Sauber bid gone well.

“He’s going to definitely start with at least one American driver, which more than likely is going to be Colton. I’d put my money on that kid any day, I just feel that he’s something very special and it’s not just words, he’s proving it and it’s fun to watch him doing his things. Michael has been able to be part of that, cultivated him right from the beginning when he came out of Europe in Formula 4 when he drove alongside people like Lando Norris.”

Asked on further details regarding engine suppliers and partners, he said it “is something that Michael will have to divulge when everything is official.”

“I think those are news that are part of his department, not mine, otherwise he would fire me I think.”

But he confirmed that “2024 is the target” to join the pinnacle of Motorsport.