Former Formula 1 star Mario Andretti took aim at Toto Wolff for the Mercedes chief's opposition to his son's bid to create an 11th team.
The 1978 champion first confirmed that his son Michael had applied to the FIA to create a new team, with a projected entry date in 2024. It came after his aborted plan to strike a deal with the existing Sauber team, which came close but ultimately failed in the second half of last year.
"I've been hearing [Michael] talking about this in the last five years at least," Andretti Sr told MotorLAT. "It's part of his ambition as a car owner. He expanded his operations, even as far as Australia – motor racing is his business. He lives and breathes this sport like we always did.
"Why not Formula 1? Gene Haas did it. He's not a 100% racer – we're 100% racers. He has fabulous backing, people that are serious and capable. Everything is for the long-term. Obviously we're experiencing some resistance – and it's very disappointing at the moment. Are we giving up? No. I think we deserve to be there."
Wolff is one of those who has come out against the idea of an Andretti entry. Instead, he would prefer to see a manufacturer like Audi create the 11th team on the grid – but that will not deter the Americans, who feel they will always have more passion for motorsport than a car manufacturer with other interests.
"Toto mentions Audi and [he would] rather have Audi as the eleventh team. In my opinion, Audi would be welcome anywhere, no question. But I don't see Audi being a start-up team," Andretti added. "I see Audi actually merging with a top team as an engine supplier. I'll tell you why.
"You can better justify the investment because as an engine supplier with any team – you win races, the engine wins – when you don't win races, it's the team's fault. It's always like that and that's the way it is. It's fine. We're one of the teams that would be open for another manufacturer. We're working already with the present manufacturers to make some decisions – that's the way it works.
"You absolutely welcome manufacturers but the manufacturers come and go. We don't come and go – we come and stay. Manufacturers don’t depend on the sport – we do. It’s our life. That's all we do. We breathe this. Why deprive us from it? We're serious about it."
Andretti has support from two or three teams on the grid, and challenged those still in opposition to tell them what they are unhappy about so it can be addressed. He concluded: "Give us specific reasons and maybe we'll see if we can fix it. Tell us exactly where the objection is and maybe we can shed some light on something like that. Maybe it's not what you really think."
