Pat Symonds, the former head of Formula 1’s technical department, is taking on a new challenge with Andretti. With the new regulations for 2026 largely in place, the 70-year-old Brit is once again seeking a sporting challenge. The Americans, after all, are still eager to participate in the championship.
It was announced on Tuesday that Pat Symonds is stepping down from his role as Chief Technical Officer within Formula 1. Shortly thereafter, Andretti announced that Symonds will be joining the American racing team. Andretti, which has been aiming to participate in the F1 championship for some time, will greatly benefit from the knowledge and experience of the seasoned engineer.
“We are pleased to share that technical expert Pat Symonds will be collaborating with Andretti Cadillac to assist us in our participation in Formula 1,” reads an official press release. The team of former world champion Mario Andretti received prior approval from the FIA, but was rejected by FOM under pressure from the current teams. The Americans recently enlisted several politicians to further investigate the matter.
Pat Symonds
Pat Symonds joined the management of Formula 1 in 2017, following a long career in the sport. He started in the 1980s with the Toleman team, which was later renamed Benetton. There, he worked as a race engineer for Michael Schumacher, among others. He also contributed to the later Renault. In 2011, Symonds joined Virgin Racing and served as technical director for Williams in 2013.
