Formula 1 legend Mario Andretti talked to Fox News Digital about the popularity of the sport in the United States and whether another American driver or team could help boost it even more.

The bid for an F1 team was initially headed by IndyCar icon Michael Andretti, but he stepped back from the limelight. Now, owner Dan Towriss is heading the project with the hope of getting a General Motors-branded outfit onto the grid in 2026, with bespoke, Cadillac-badged power units as early as 2028.

Andretti could not get approval from F1 to enter. But the situation changed in September when he reduced his role with his namesake organization.

A General Motors-backed bid to enter Formula One as an 11th team in 2026 is now looking more likely to succeed after being previously rejected, multiple sources said on Friday.Liberty Media-owned Formula One ruled out the Andretti bid in January,

So much so that F1 and Formula One Management could have a decision to grant the General Motors-backed entry a spot as the 11th team on the grid in the coming weeks. Dan Towriss, now the majority owner of the Andretti organization, was at the Las Vegas ...

Now, Andretti's father, 1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti, has opened up on the latest developments within the organisation. Speaking with Gazzetta Dello Sport, he suggested that there could be news of an update to their entry bid on the way.

A General Motors-backed bid to enter Formula One as an 11th team in 2026 is now looking more likely to succeed after being previously rejected, multiple sources said on Friday.

Momentum has reportedly shifted in the GM / Andretti team's favor, nearly a year after the initial rejection of the team's plan to join as an 11th F1 team.

A decision on the status of Andretti and their participation in Formula 1 could be made in the coming weeks, with a substantial increase in the chances of acceptance coming as a result of a restructuring within Andretti Global that meant Michael Andretti was put into a smaller role within the organisation.