Open Wheel Racing 2021, anyone there to watch?

[Russell Jaslow]

Looks like an agreement has been reached. It’ll be named GM/Cadillac. Mario Andretti will be the director but won’t get his name on anything.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...wHwXkr4efkpnhc

So the parent company of Andretti Global, TWG Global, is going to be running the team. Essentially, the same thing.

[MichVandal]

So the parent company of Andretti Global, TWG Global, is going to be running the team. Essentially, the same thing.

Same, but different. No Mike. So no reason to call it Andretti Global. I think that really matters.

[MichVandal]

Looks like an agreement has been reached. It’ll be named GM/Cadillac. Mario Andretti will be the director but won’t get his name on anything.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...wHwXkr4efkpnhc

And the great irony- since GM doesn't sell cars in Europe anymore, they have less cache in Europe than "Andretti" does.

Clearly, the issue was personal.

[Jimjamesak]

And the great irony- since GM doesn't sell cars in Europe anymore, they have less cache in Europe than "Andretti" does.

Clearly, the issue was personal.

I’m guessing someone at Liberty Media asked some incoming Dump administration folks if they were going to stop the investigations into LM and LM didn’t get an answer they liked.

[MichVandal]

I’m guessing someone at Liberty Media asked some incoming Dump administration folks if they were going to stop the investigations into LM and LM didn’t get an answer they liked.

It's also ironic that the people bringing that up so loudly give a crap about monopolies. But that's for a different thread. I'm sure that was part of it, since LM is also trying to buy MotoGP.

[Jimjamesak]

It's also ironic that the people bringing that up so loudly give a crap about monopolies. But that's for a different thread. I'm sure that was part of it, since LM is also trying to buy MotoGP.

I think it’s more of “why is an American company blocking another American company?” thing. And GM has way more political power than Liberty Media.

[Russell Jaslow]

I think it’s more of “why is an American company blocking another American company?” thing. And GM has way more political power than Liberty Media.

Rumor has it that someone discovered an LM email chain which talked about stopping Andretti at all costs, and the people in this chain was very damning (is it just a coincidence that that the CEO and Legal Council, who was extremely well respected, just recently resigned?). At that point, the investigation was kicked into high gear, because the DOJ had LM dead to rights. Heck, they could have even considered RICO charges.

[MichVandal]

I think it’s more of “why is an American company blocking another American company?” thing. And GM has way more political power than Liberty Media.

Bear in mind, GM part of the most competitive market not only in the US, but for the entire planet. There is no chance of a monopoly in cars. So GM has less political power than it may appear- as they have to keep an eye on Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda, etc. I'd be pretty sure that the owners of Liberty personally know R leadership than Mary Bara does.

[MichVandal]

Rumor has it that someone discovered an LM email chain which talked about stopping Andretti at all costs, and the people in this chain was very damning (is it just a coincidence that that the CEO and Legal Council, who was extremely well respected, just recently resigned?). At that point, the investigation was kicked into high gear, because the DOJ had LM dead to rights. Heck, they could have even considered RICO charges.

Again, it's really funny that it matters for LM when they ignore the same for so many other companies in the US, let alone the R leadership that are the ones complaining about it. But, again, that's for a different thread here.

[MichVandal]

The Race has an interesting set of news on the new team- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEvVp5hElfo

And one funny part, I think, is that they are not bound by the cost savings rules- meaning 1) they have been working on the '26 car for a while now- the rest can't start until 1/1/25; 2) they have unlimited CFD and wind tunnel time. Who knows when that will get bracketed, given the news just came out today.

But they think they will start as Haas2.0, being a very customer Ferrari team. Which makes a lot of sense, since Sauber is dropping Ferrari for Audi.

[Russell Jaslow]

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/everything-we-know-about-new-cadillac-f1-entry-without-andretti/

What was built by Andretti Global is still very much the cornerstone of the project but it is headed now by investor Dan Towriss rather than Michael Andretti.

So, a new name to signify a break from what came before. But what is Andretti Global in spirit, if not in name, will still have a very big part to play in running the entry.

BTW, to bring a hockey connection into this, Mark Walter, the main investor and owner of the PWHL, is a key investor in this F1 project as well.

This includes not just Towriss but Mark Walter, CEO of investment firm Guggenheim Partners and a sports franchise investor, who is a key player.

[MichVandal]

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/everything-we-know-about-new-cadillac-f1-entry-without-andretti/





BTW, to bring a hockey connection into this, Mark Walter, the main investor and owner of the PWHL, is a key investor in this F1 project as well.

Since everyone here is a college hockey fan, we all know coaching leadership matters a LOT. Even with the same players, leaving Mike out does change things considerably.

[solovsfett]

As Solo mentions, a lot of the bad blood goes back to 93 when Michael signed to race at McLaren. That was HUGE news for F1, and then Michael proceeded to have less than a stellar performance. He made a lot of comments about not having to move to Europe to be successful. His wife was a prima donna, he thought he was super special and then the lack of results. He flew back and forth for races, meaning he never built up capital with the team, teammate, journalists, TV, etc.

Just look at what drivers like Lauda, Schummi, Hamilton have done to lift the team. They spend time at HQ with the 'boys', engineers, pit crews, etc, to get everyone playing above their skills. So much to be said for that just like it is here stateside in _______ (name your sport).

Senna is LOVED throughout the racing world (unless you were a Prost fan) and is a GOD in Brazil. He was the son of wealth, but raced like a common man with a big chip on his shoulder. What he could do in a car was other worldly. Dare I say, you could put him in the Haas and he would finish no lower than 5th in the Championship. In the rain, only Max is even close.

Totally agree on Senna. I haven’t seen a driver come close to him subsequent to his passing. Although recently it’s tough to see talent shine through because guys Donny have to fight the cars as much and the superstars aren’t placing Haas or Williams cars in the top 3 or 5 on their way up.

still, I trust Hakkinen, Schumey, Hamilton and Brundle when they Senna was the best.


as for Michael I can see him acting somewhat like a prima donna in that season because up until then everything had been handed to him (to be fair he won all the time so he did have a hell of a lot of talent) and then in Europe it’s a whole different animal.

When Michael stepped down at Andretti Global my gut instinct was “this has to be related to his F1 bid” he’s still young enough to have the fire burning but he’s moving aside to make the F1 dream happen.

[MichVandal]

Totally agree on Senna. I haven’t seen a driver come close to him subsequent to his passing. Although recently it’s tough to see talent shine through because guys Donny have to fight the cars as much and the superstars aren’t placing Haas or Williams cars in the top 3 or 5 on their way up.

still, I trust Hakkinen, Schumey, Hamilton and Brundle when they Senna was the best.


as for Michael I can see him acting somewhat like a prima donna in that season because up until then everything had been handed to him (to be fair he won all the time so he did have a hell of a lot of talent) and then in Europe it’s a whole different animal.

When Michael stepped down at Andretti Global my gut instinct was “this has to be related to his F1 bid” he’s still young enough to have the fire burning but he’s moving aside to make the F1 dream happen.

I'm not so sure that it goes all the way back to '93. So few of the people who were there are in F1 or the FIA today that it would have to have been passed down from people to people. And that normally declines with time. The hesitation to deal with Mike may have been clouded by that, but all of the people who now don't like Mike probably learned by interacting with him.

Just can't see many people who were on the grid 31 years ago still around in a way that it would really matter other than warning everyone else he could be a handful.

[Proud2baLaker]

For you F1 fans, Lego has had several F1 themed sets in the past several years (including a really cool version of Senna's McLaren MP4/4). They have a bunch of F1 themed sets coming out in 2025. I have a few previous versions of some of their F1 sets (Aston Martin, AMG, and McLaren) but these look just a little more detailed than those. I am not super familiar with F1 at all (don't watch or follow) but I will probably get the Ferrari and Redbull ones for sure. Others maybe here and there.