Andretti hiring people from rival F1 teams in 2026 season bid

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Andretti has ambitions to join the Formula 1 grid from the 2026 season despite being rejected formally by FOM earlier this year.

The American team has stated that its work “continues at pace” after recently opening up a facility in Silverstone where it claimed that a workforce of 80 people is designing and developing a car that can race in 2026.

One of the pros of Andretti’s current position is that they are not bound to the regulations for 2026, meaning they can start work on their car before the mandated January 2025 start date.

F1 teams are also bound to the cost cap, which dictates how much money they are allowed to spend in a season. Now it appears Andretti is hiring a lot of people from rival F1 teams according to a report from RacingNews365.

Andretti recruited from several other F1 teams in 2026 bid

Former F1 chief technical officer, Pat Symonds, joined the company in teh role of executive engineering consultant earlier this year as he looks to transfer his knowledge about car aerodynamics.

Andretti have also snapped up former Renault technical boss Nick Chester, as they attempt to prove their credentials amid concerns from F1 over their technical abilities.

According to a report from RacingNews365, several employees from other F1 teams have also been approached about a potential switch.

It shows that Andretti and their employees still believe in making it to the F1 grid, despite the rejection from FOM which stated that they would not add value to the championship.

Andretti told they must work with Cadillac to secure F1 future

FOM left the door open for Andretti for an entry as early as 2027 if they can bring in an OEM such as Cadillac as a power unit manufacturer.

Guenther Steiner, who was responsible for getting an entry for the last US-based F1 team to enter the grid in 2016 with Haas, thinks there is still a chance.

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Steiner thinks Andretti must work with Cadillac to produce an engine that is ready for the future, so they can guarantee a place on the grid.

Alpine recently closed down their factory in Viry Chatillon that produces their engines and there is some talk over whether Renault could sell the IP off to Andretti for Cadillac.