Andretti has brought on former Formula 1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds as part of its ongoing effort to join the F1 grid.
Andretti has made a significant move by signing former Formula 1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds as their executive engineering consultant. The 70-year-old will join the team after completing his gardening leave, the duration of which remains undisclosed.
Symonds, a seasoned veteran in motorsport, has held pivotal roles at Benetton, Renault, and Williams. Despite being banned from F1 due to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix ‘Crashgate’ scandal—a ban that was later overturned—Symonds has been an integral part of F1’s technical team since 2017. His addition to Andretti is intriguing, particularly given that the team has yet to secure F1’s approval to join the grid.
Earlier this year, F1 formally rejected Andretti’s bid, citing concerns that the team would not provide sufficient value to justify the costs to the existing ten teams. This decision came despite Andretti receiving approval from F1’s governing body, the FIA.
Andretti, in partnership with General Motors’ Cadillac brand, aims to enter F1 in 2026 as a customer team, with plans to introduce bespoke Cadillac power units by 2028. Despite the setback from F1, Andretti has continued to push forward, expanding its program and actively lobbying within the United States.
Recently, a letter from the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee was sent to F1 and its owner, Liberty Media. This has been followed by a bipartisan group of senators advocating for the matter to be addressed by the Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission, as reported by American media.
As Andretti persists in its efforts to join the F1 grid, the addition of Pat Symonds brings valuable expertise and a wealth of experience to their ambitious project.
