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AT LAST! ANDRETTI EXPLAINS F1 FLOP

Michael Andretti talks about his short lived F1 career for the first time - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Michael Andretti talks about his short lived F1 career for the first time - Photo: LAT

Michael Andretti talks about his short lived F1 career for the first time – Photo: LAT

Indycar legend Michael Andretti has broken his long silence on his abortive F1 career, revealing that he was undermined from the start.

By MARK FOGARTY

In the latest issue of AUTO ACTION – on sale today – Andretti speaks at length for the first time about his troubled and shortened season with McLaren in 1993.

He explains why he believes he had the potential to become F1 world champion “a few times over” if he’d been given a proper chance.

After publicly staying silent about his bitter F1 experience for 25 years, Andretti’s revelations to AA go a long way towards unravelling the mystery of why his super-talent in Indycars didn’t transfer.

The champion driver turned successful IndyCar Series team owner, who is also a senior partner of the Walkinshaw Andretti United squad in Supercars, blames his poor F1 showing on then McLaren chief Ron Dennis.

“He pushed me out,” Andretti declared in the interview. “From the second race on, he was trying to get me out of the car. I fought and kept going, and then at least I finally got myself to Monza, which was cool.

“I’m glad I did because I got on the podium, finally.”

Michael Andretti driving for McLaren at the European Grand Prix - Photo: LAT

Michael Andretti driving for McLaren at the European Grand Prix – Photo: LAT

Andretti finished third in the Italian Grand Prix in his McLaren-Ford, only to be ousted shortly afterwards before returning to the then CART Indy Car World Series in 1994.

He was replaced as Ayrton Senna’s teammate by test driver Mika Hakkinen, whom the second-generation American star maintains he regularly outpaced.

“Had it gone the way it was supposed to go, I think I could have been world champion a few times over,” Andretti claimed. “And I know I could’ve done it because Mika won two world championships with McLaren (1998/99) and there was never a time when he was quicker than me (in testing).

“I was caught in the middle of a political war – and that’s all I need to say.”

In fact, Andretti, who witnessed WAU’s fighting second place at Bathurst, has much more to say about the insidious reasons behind his F1 failure.

In his expansive conversation with AA, the 1991 Indycar champion also outlines his goals as a Supercars team co-owner and gives his views on the chances of a modern revival of the Chevrolet Camaro versus Ford Mustang rivalry in Australia.

It’s compelling reading in the latest issue of AUTO ACTION, on sale now.

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