The latest look of Andretti Global is taking shape

What does Andretti Global seem like after Michael Andretti takes a step back?

That's a matter many individuals have been asking because the team's owner stepped down as president and CEO in September, handing the reins to Group 1001 CEO Dan Towriss. Andretti stays a strategic advisor to the organization he co-founded in 2002.

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There was a belief that this was the ultimate key to unlocking the door to Formula 1 for the Andretti-Cadillac project, which happened in late November when Liberty Media approved General Motors because the eleventh team for 2026. GM will start operations under its Cadillac banner as a customer team , before starting to provide its own engines at the tip of the last decade, using the prevailing Andretti Global project in Silverstone as a pillar.

While the Cadillac F1 program continues to take shape, Andretti's attention can be focused on the IndyCar division because the 2025 season lasts roughly 46 days.

Despite all of the changes at Andretti Global, Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the No. 27 Honda, still feels the presence of his former team owner and legendary racer.

“We only see it as a positive for the team,” Kirkwood said. “Michael continues to be around, in fact. It's not like he disappeared. I feel he’ll proceed to play a job within the team, and for us, obviously I even have that bond not only with Michael but with everyone within the team.

“We're excited to continue the business and obviously Dan and Michael have a plan and their plan seems to be on track, so we're excited.”

Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Honda

Photo: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Images

The organization has high hopes following a robust 2024 IndyCar season by which Colton Herta upped his game to say two wins, six podiums, 11 top fives and three poles en path to a career-best second-place finish within the championship. For his part, Kirkwood also put together an honest campaign, taking a career-high seventh place within the championship standings thanks to at least one podium, five top fives, 13 top 10s and one pole position. Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner, was the standout among the many three as his first 12 months with the team was disappointing and he finished fifteenth overall.

“I think last year's results gave me even more motivation to work even harder,” said Ericsson, driver of the No. 28 Honda. “I'm not likely a fan of bad luck. Many people told me, “I'm sorry about last year, bad luck.” I don't really imagine it. I feel you create your personal happiness.

“I didn't do well enough last year, so I want to make sure I do better this year. I put a lot of work into working with my mental coach. We have weekly sessions. I gained 10 pounds of muscle considering my physical condition. I'm stronger than ever before and I've started working on the simulator on my own, so I'm riding the simulators almost every day to practice, since we don't have a lot of riding in the off-season, I'm trying to hone my craft in the simulators.”

Although Herta restored Andretti's bravado in 2024, he said it “really sucks” to complete second – just 31 points away from the championship – behind Alex Palou. Andretti Global hasn't won a championship since 2012 with Ryan Hunter-Reay, while Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske have jointly won the IndyCar title within the last 12 years.

Reflecting on what helped the team take the following step, Herta quickly noticed the gains made on the short and medium ovals.

“Mostly we did well on super-fast roads, but we lacked that, especially if you look at the championships we have run over the years, in which we lost a lot of points in those places,” said Herta, who will start within the season-opening Grand Prix in St. Petersburg on March 2 after for the hundredth time in IndyCar.

“But we turned it around with a podium and principally a top five in Milwaukee and the pole in Iowa. [At] Gateway, we went from twenty fifth to fourth and won in Nashville. We form of improved so much on the medium and shorter ovals and that form of made the difference for us.

“That gives me a variety of confidence because I don't think our problem has ever been on the road circuits, and for probably the most part we've done thoroughly on many of the road circuits. But these ovals form of – they weren't my best either, and I feel they were starting to point out that they could be a few of my best for the approaching 12 months.

Colton Herta, Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian Honda

Photo: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images

And as for the Cadillac F1 program, which Herta was not only related to but in addition tipped for by 1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti, who currently sits on GM's racing program board, there’s little concern concerning the former's situation .

“Yeah, I don't care at all,” Herta said. “I've form of been drawn into this conversation for what seems like half a decade. I've had the carrot in front of me for a while now.

“I'm a little bit uninterested in this case and I just need to ride at this point and deal with IndyCar this 12 months and deal with winning the championship, and if something comes out of it, I'll need to take into consideration It. This continues to be not certain.

“All my friends and family are here in the US and I don't know anyone where I'm going, so if I have to make this decision, it will be a big decision for me.”