Formula 1News

Mario Andretti to be involved in the running of Lotus F1

Mario Andretti on Saturday said he will get involved with the new Malaysian backed formula one team Lotus.

The Italian-American, in Bahrain for Saturday’s on-track display of F1’s 60 year history, won the world championship at the wheel of the famous black Lotus 79 in 1978.

The relaunched team is not directly connected to the original Lotus, but 60-year-old Andretti said the new management has asked him to get involved.

“There might become a little bit more of an involvement on my part, because they seem to be very proud of the brand that obviously they are there representing,” he told reporters.

Asked what form his involvement will take, the winner of 12 grands prix answered: “We’ll see — stay tuned.”

When asked to comment as an American on the failure of the USF1 team, he said Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor had been “shooting too high”, and he called the absence on the calendar of a US grand prix an “unthinkable travesty”.

Source: GMM

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    blind_biscut
  • Mar 15, 2010
Seriously is no ones gonna comment on this? ITS MARIO ANDRETTI A FREAKING LEGEND!!!! PFFTT Malaysian, if it would be SCHUMY everybody would be jumping for joy...
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    bizardo
  • Mar 15, 2010
nah.. we don't only know schumy. Mario is among greats such as Juan Fangio, Ayrton Senna, Jackie Stewart, Jacques Villeneuve, Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet.

he was at the hospitality area in bahrain. good to see him backin team Lotus.
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    netmatrix
  • Mar 16, 2010
To people born in the 80s'-90s', they would not know who he is. Which most of the people are here. I know he is a racer. But i do not know his history. I know he wins stuff, but i do not know at what races. He seems to be big in USA, but his name sounds like he is from Spain. Though i could check in the in the internet for those details and lie that i know Mario like the back of my hand.

But i'll tell you first hand, plenty of people would feel the same way i do. Just the general stuff and not the tech stuff on Mario.
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    BabyGodzillaGTi-R
  • Mar 16, 2010
I wonder if he's son is still racing. Michael Andretti...

Good to see Lotus back in action again.

I want my Lotus Exige or better still if they come out with an RSR clubsport equivalent of an Evora for the roads.

But Alas Sawi will be my 1st and the Exora my 2nd lotus in reality.
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    Lancewood
  • Mar 16, 2010
You think they'll ever make an Exige GT3? *drools*
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    RocK
  • Mar 16, 2010
“We’ll see — stay tuned.”
PR work. Pull USA sponsor $$$.
Mario has been out of touch from F1. what else can he do in the racing team. Get Mario and Dr.M together..
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