Mario Andretti Says He’s 'Offended' By F1 Rejection, And You Can Understand Why

Earlier this year, Formula 1 announced that it rejected a joint bid to join the grid from Andretti Global and GM's Cadillac. The decision has been divisive in many circles but I don't think you'll have a hard time guessing how Mario Andretti feels about the snub.

Immediately after news broke that F1 had shot down a possible entry spearheaded by his son, Michael, Andretti tweeted that he was "devastated."

Some say time heals all wounds, but apparently, it doesn't heal having strong plans for an Andretti-Cadillac F1 team Dikembe Mutmobo'ed by F1.

"I was offended, actually. I don’t think we deserved that, to be honest with you," Andretti said at Long Beach Grand Prix, per the Associated Press' Jenna Fryer. 

I mean… it's hard to disagree. Andretti was the F1 World Champion in 1978, and there have been quite a few fellow champs like Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart who came back to the grid with their own teams.

Of course, that was a while ago and the current way F1 teams split revenue is different than it was even in the 1990s.

But, as Andretti pointed out, the Andretti-Cadillac joint bid brought a lot to the table that would benefit the series as a whole.

"It’s a big investment in the series, and you’d think they’d welcome that. Even the value of the series is more valuable with 11 teams than 10, so I don’t know. Tell us what is really wrong."

Racing legend Mario Andretti didn't hold back when asked how he felt after an Andretti -Cadillac team was shot down by Formula 1. (Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Andretti Ripped F1 Asking Cadillac To Partner With Someone Else

Andretti pointed out another thing that didn't sit well with him: the fact that F1 questioned whether GM could whip up an engine for the potential team, only to then ask the auto giant if they'd be willing to partner with another team that wasn't Andretti.

"That’s another offensive statement there. We’re the ones that worked it out, and GM said it over and over, ‘Andretti or nothing,’ and then (F1) still tried to take it."

Maybe it was the aggressive way Michael Andretti went about trying to get on the grid, but something isn't sitting well with the powers that be at F1.

However, the team is still working toward a spot on the grid and recently opened a new facility at Silverstone.

And Mario Andretti himself sounds like he's more than ready to keep fighting. 

"There’s an undercurrent there that I don’t understand, quite honestly, but if they want blood, well, I’m ready."

The man is 84 years old, folks. What an absolute legend.