P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 has been increasingly tapping into the American market in recent years but amid Michael Andretti’s push to join the grid, Ferrari’s Frederic Vasseur thinks a driver from the USA is more valuable for the sport.
According to Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur, American drivers hold more importance for Formula 1 than an American team. Michael Andretti, who is hoping to enter the sport with his own team, has passed the initial analysis by the FIA and is now in discussions with the sport’s commercial rights holders. F1 and its teams have been hesitant to welcome an 11th team due to concerns about potential impacts on end-of-year payouts. Haas is currently the only American team on the grid, and Logan Sargeant became the first US national to race in F1 since 2015. While F1 has been focusing on expanding its presence in the US market, doubts remain about Andretti’s entry, despite their partnership with General Motors. Vasseur believes that the success of F1 in a country is more influenced by successful drivers rather than the nationality of the team.
