Andretti System E workforce principal Roger Griffiths has moved to downplay hypothesis concerning Norman Nato’s future on the workforce.
There was hypothesis that Nico Mueller could possibly be positioned on the workforce by Porsche following his latest exit from Abt Cupra and Porsche’s longstanding hyperlink with the Swiss driver. Such a transfer would imply an exit for Nato, who joined the workforce forward of this season to race alongside sequence champion Jake Dennis (pictured above main Nato). However Griffiths has dismissed the hypothesis, insisting the Frenchman is contracted to the workforce.
“Norman continues to be underneath contract with us,” Griffiths insisted when requested by RACER concerning the Mueller hypothesis. “So yeah, till that modifications, we don’t have something to say.”
Andretti will get its powertrain from Porsche and have been it to signal Mueller, it might be the second time a Porsche driver has raced for the client workforce. However Griffiths says the German model has no say in Andretti’s lineup and that the final time it fielded somebody from Porsche’s roster — Andre Lotterer in Season 9 — it was at Andretti’s request to ensure that it to stand up to hurry with its new accomplice..
“It’s utterly our determination,” he stated. “With Andre, that was truly a request from us to see if Andre can be obtainable, as a result of we knew that he was stepping away from his manufacturing facility seat and what we talked about was to assist us to get us up to the mark with the Porsche automobile and the Porsche methods. We had but to determine the place we have been going with drivers for season 9 (2022-23). So all of it labored out rather well. Driver lineup is 100% our determination at present and tomorrow.”
Whereas Andretti went into the championship last doubleheader with a shot at retaining the drivers’ title with Dennis, it in the end got here up quick as Porsche and Jaguar’s manufacturing facility operations got here to the fore. Whereas Griffiths admits disappointment at not with the ability to execute a repeat, he admits he wasn’t solely shocked with the result of the season.
“Clearly getting in as defending champions, you at all times have that hope that you are able to do it once more,” he stated. It’s massively tough to do a repeat championship. I imply, should you look throughout any motorsport class, there’s not too many individuals which can be back-to-back champions. And there’s a purpose,
“I believe we bought out the gate rather well in Season 9 and took an awesome benefit. Jake bought a very good benefit. I believe we additionally found out the ‘peloton-style’ racing faster than a number of the others, so we kind of carried that momentum, and that took us all the way in which to the championship.
“Clearly within the offseason, others did their homework round us. I believe what we’ve seen usually throughout the board — and never simply with us — is the manufacturer-backed groups have actually come to the fore.”
Dennis in the end completed seventh within the standings with one win and an additional three podiums to his title, whereas Nato added one other with third within the second Shanghai race. That mixed to place Andretti fifth within the groups’ championship, behind Jaguar TCS Racing, TAG Heuer Porsche, DS Penske and Nissan, however forward of final yr’s groups’ champion Envision Racing and the much-improved NEOM McLaren and Maserati MSG Racing operations that each additionally reached the winner’s circle throughout the yr.
“We’re the one unbiased workforce within the prime 5, in order that kind of says one thing,” Griffiths stated. “The producers have had extra check days; they get a bonus there. So (it’s) not stunning (however) I believe, usually, we’re a bit upset from my perspective. I’d wish to have seen yet one more win.”
