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Vowles: Andretti must bring 'growth' to F1

The new Williams Team Principal welcomes the idea of Andretti joining the grid, but believes they must demonstrate how they will bring growth to F1.

Since Andretti announced their intentions to join the Formula 1 grid with General Motors under the Cadillac brand, there has been increased scrutiny over how the the new process for teams joining the grid will work. Theoretically Andretti should avoid having to pay the $200 million joining fee due to European Union laws , but some are still keen for the American outfit to show their worth at a time when F1 is experiencing exponential growth in the US. Mario Andretti said the team is "ticking every box" as they attempt to become the 11th entity, as evidenced by their link up with one of the largest car brands in the world. Formula 1's increase in popularity in the US market, partly fuelled by the Netflix series Drive to Survive , is part of the reason that a third US event in Las Vegas is being added for 2023.

Vowles: The sport financially is becoming more and more successful

James Vowles, who will assume the role as Williams Team Principal at the end of February, believes the new team must bring "growth" to enable "everyone else to be in a better position" if they join and take away more prize money. "We're always open to the sport growing and the truth behind it is the sport financially is becoming more and more successful," he told media, including RacingNews365.com . "Whoever joins in that environment needs to bring with it effectively the growth that is required in order for everyone else to be in a better position, or at least a neutral position. "I think it's been a statement from the outset and there's a lot of lovely things about Andretti and about Cadillac, it just needs to have a good understanding of how it will grow the sport and what the growth will be."

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