Is Marco F1 bound? (MERGED, again)

aeroehl · 29 May 2006, 13:15 (Ref:1621981)

Is Marco Andretti America's next great star if F1. He has the talent (second at the worlds biggest car race at 19), he has the popularity, and he has the family name. So is Marco F1 bound? That is where he hopes to end up when it is all said and done.

**Bononi** · 29 May 2006, 13:21 (Ref:1621988)

Is this an official statement or are you speculating ???

Links anyone ?

aeroehl · 29 May 2006, 13:21 (Ref:1621990)

speculating

luke · 29 May 2006, 13:22 (Ref:1621991)

I think it's personal opinion.

runshaw · 29 May 2006, 13:24 (Ref:1621993)

Its not speculating- I saw him being interviewed on a video a while back when he was testing an Atlantic car and he said F1 is definately where he wants to be.

**Bononi** · 29 May 2006, 13:29 (Ref:1621998)

I would say it's almost natural a driver aim F1. I think Marco certainly will learn from Michael the hard lessons about this move.

TomS · 29 May 2006, 13:29 (Ref:1621999)

I think it'll be a few years yet......after yesterday he'll want to win indy asap and i think he'll concentrate on that first

luke · 29 May 2006, 13:31 (Ref:1622001)

Yeah, it is worth giving up what your doing where you currently are to risk it all for F1 which is no guarantee you'll cut it.

**Adam43** · 29 May 2006, 13:36 (Ref:1622005)

He hasn't even settled in what he is doing now. He has plenty to achieve in America first. He's not going to do it soon.

BootsOntheSide · 29 May 2006, 13:46 (Ref:1622020)

Going into Indy he was 16th in the IRL championship, practically last out of the drivers who started every race, and in (at worst) the 3rd-best team. He's only young and has shown potential, but he would need a couple of seasons in GP2 or some other road course based championship for any F1 team to consider him.

foreversideways · 29 May 2006, 13:55 (Ref:1622032)

I think he has plenty to prove yet where he is before Formula one beckons, if it ever does. I have to say that all the hype about his performance is over the top. For me Dan Wheldon was yet again the class of the field, only robbed of his back to back victory by events beyond his control.

Hazard · 29 May 2006, 13:58 (Ref:1622034)

It's not likely an IRL driver will progress to Formula 1 unless they have a formidable background in other top single seater categories.

Montoya & Villeneuve came up through CART, which had a lot of road races as well as ovals.

And firstly, it's very early days for Marco yet. His Indy 500 run was phenomenal, but he's not been running at that pace so far this year so the category's he's in at the moment are either 'learning fast' or 'inconsistant'. Need to know which!

Raven · 29 May 2006, 13:59 (Ref:1622035)

Marco was this years Danica it seems. Had a good car under him, strategy played to his advantage towards the end, and was in with a shout of winning in the closing stages.

But realistically there's still a long way to go. I wouldn't put big expectations on Marco to win an IRL race anytime soon.

Super Hans · 29 May 2006, 13:59 (Ref:1622037)

I've no doubt that he will enter F1 in a few years, providing that he wants to, and that he proves his pace Stateside. I am becoming rather worried that in the future the entire F1 grid will consist of the Sons of famous F1 drivers.

Fogelhund · 29 May 2006, 14:03 (Ref:1622040)

He ran in Star Mazda last year, with no victories, and 5th in the championship (4th placed rookie). The jump from Mazda to IRL was a bit too big IMHO, and he would have been better served by going to Formula Atlantics like Graham Rahal, who similarily wishes to go to F1. Rahal beat Andretti at almost every race last year, and has been doing quite well in Atlantics. It is a positive to have young talented North Americans coming up the pipeline though.

I think way too much is being put into this one result, on an oval that doesn't translate much to F1.

aeroehl · 29 May 2006, 14:03 (Ref:1622041)

He is still only 19. What was Michael Schumacher doing at 19?

Super Hans · 29 May 2006, 14:07 (Ref:1622047)

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeroehl

He is still only 19. What was Michael Schumacher doing at 19?

I might be wrong but I believe he was competing in F3 and cultivating an impressive mullet.

BootsOntheSide · 29 May 2006, 14:12 (Ref:1622052)

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeroehl

He is still only 19. What was Michael Schumacher doing at 19?

Wishing his dad would give him a silver spoon?

Fogelhund · 29 May 2006, 14:16 (Ref:1622058)

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeroehl

He is still only 19. What was Michael Schumacher doing at 19?

At 18 Michael came third in the German F3 championship, which would be about equivalent to Formula Atlantics here. He also won one of the prestigous Macau F3 Heat races.

At 19, he was the German F3 champion, and competed on the Mercedes Group C factory team, with one victory.

By 22, Schumacher was in F1, with multiple points positions that first year.

This is an unfair comparison to make of anyone. Fact is that Marco just didn't compete very well in Star Mazda last year.

Avid Merrion · 29 May 2006, 14:16 (Ref:1622060)

I think your right , he was doing German F3 for W Webers team .

Marco is a superb young talented guy that should go far . It was so impressive to see his race yesterday at the 500 , afterwards when he was interviewed he said that Second place meant nothing ! , he only wants to win . That sounds to me like the kind of young guy that could do modern day Formula 1 a lot of good , what a great attitude to have .

Add to that his surname and the media attention it would generate in the USA , A move one day to F1 would be a very good thing . And the guy races hard too and i dont buy any of this stuff about his dad giving him everything on a plate , you dont race hard and fast at 220 MPH just on the back of your dad could do it to . His races in Atlantics and Pro Mazda series were very good , F1 could be a place he drives for soon . I really hope it happens .

foreversideways · 29 May 2006, 14:22 (Ref:1622067)

Looking to the future it would be good news for F1 if Marco ultimatly makes it in there as Formula one has so far failed to make it big in America. The presence of a home name,especialy from the Andretti clan would guarantee good coverage stateside.

Avid Merrion · 29 May 2006, 14:27 (Ref:1622072)

I expect the viewing figures woud more than triple . The name Andretti really carries alot of weight over there in the States doesnt it .

**Adam43** · 29 May 2006, 14:31 (Ref:1622078)

Twelve Americans would watch F1 then

Knowlesy · 29 May 2006, 14:53 (Ref:1622098)

Marco is one I shall be looking out for as I believe he has the talent....he is, after all, an Andretti!

However, he is very young, very inexperienced and needs to do a lot more miles and racing before even thinking about Formula 1.

The Indy 500 did show he should have what it takes however.

mountainstar · 29 May 2006, 14:59 (Ref:1622103)

Marco has had the road paved with gold for him and has yet to impress. I doubt F1 bosses are going to be all fired up over a driver that held his foot flat to the floor for 2 and a half hours and finished second.

A lot of people put a lot of stock in the famous name. I could care less. I only care about results and who they are as a person and driver, not who their father was.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Well It was bound to happen!	Rossi # 46	Formula One	1	6 Mar 2005 00:36
Setting bump and re-bound on shocks	Andrew Jones	Racers Forum	5	12 May 2003 18:15
Ben Edwards out of work - ITV bound?	Sodemo	Formula One	12	27 Jan 2003 18:55
Marco Campos	DNQ	National & International Single Seaters	11	7 May 2001 22:39