Andretti Cadillac is still aiming to enter Formula 1 in 2025 despite the ongoing opposition it is facing to its bid, Michael Andretti has confirmed.

The Andretti project was originally targeting a 2025 entry but has seen the FIA’s evaluation process drag on until the start of this month. Now having had approval from the governing body, Andretti still faces a major hurdle with Formula One Management (FOM) appearing unwilling to add to the current 10 teams, but Michael Andretti says he’s not giving up on being on the grid in a little over a year’s time.

“At the moment we are still shooting for ’25,” Andretti told Sky Sports. “Our car is actually going to be in the wind tunnel next week – we have a car already set up in ’23 spec – so we’re flat out. We’re building a team. At the moment it’s ’25; could be ’26, but we’ll see.”

Speaking in the paddock at the United States Grand Prix, Andretti said that he’s unsure why teams are so against the entry given the indications he has seen regarding the impact it could have on the sport.

“I don’t know, it’s a mystery to me in some ways why they’re pushing back,” he said. “They say we’re slicing the pie, but the point is hopefully we bring in more than we’re taking away and we really believe that. If you look at the fan support on all of the surveys that have been done and things, we think we’re going to add to it, not take it away.”

Andretti confirmed the main target is still to have Colton Herta as one of the two drivers if the team does end up being successful, alongside someone with more experience of racing in F1.

“Besides Dad [Mario Andretti], obviously we talk a lot about Colton, and Colton is definitely at the top of our list but obviously we have the points problem,” he said. “So we have to see how he does in the IndyCar championship to hopefully get enough points to get a Super License. But then we’ve talked to a few others who do qualify. The goal is to have at least one American in the car and then an experienced driver in the other car to help mentor that.”