Mario Andretti will have the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car ahead of this year’s United States Grand Prix at Austin.
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Mario Andretti competed in 128 Grands Prix between 1968 and 1982, winning the world championship with Lotus in 1978. In his Formula One career, he won twelve races. In addition, the American won the IndyCar championship and finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995. Andretti, at 82, may not have been an active driver in years, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t yearn to get back behind the wheel. Andretti will have the opportunity to drive a McLaren Formula 1 car ahead of this year’s United States Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas, according to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.
Andretti attended the Miami Grand Prix last weekend with David Beckham, Michael Jordan, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and two-time F1 winner Emerson Fittipaldi. In Miami, Andretti indicated that driving a modern Formula One car is on his bucket list. McLaren team owner Zak Brown doesn’t let himself say that twice and immediately offers Andretti the opportunity to step into a McLaren Formula One car. “Struck a deal with Mario to tick something off his bucket list; he’ll be driving a previous @McLarenF1 race car at this year’s US GP in Austin,” tweeted Brown. Anfretti will drive a prior generation McLaren model ahead of the Austin race, although Brown didn’t confirm which one.
The task is completed immediately. It has to happen during the weekend of the US Grand Prix, otherwise Andretti will be forced to drive an earlier model of the McLaren, according to Brown. They have to make some type of bet, said Brown. What the bet comprises, though, remains unknown. “But we have to make some kind of bet, because that’s what I do with my drivers,” exclaimed brown. Meanwhile, Andretti couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Wow, really?” said the thrilled former driver, shaking Brown’s hand to confirm the transaction. This will surely provide some memorable experiences in Austin.
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Despite being 82 years old, Andretti has maintained his eye in, routinely delighting visitors with laps in a two-seater IndyCar during race events in that series. Meanwhile, driving a McLaren will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Andretti, who never raced for the team in his 128 starts with the likes of Ferrari, Lotus, and Parnelli, though his son Michael did embark on an ill-fated half season with the team alongside Ayrton Senna in 1993, before returning to his successful career in the United States.
The United States Grand Prix held in Circuit of the Americas race track in Austin is all set in October later this year.
