Nick Chester appointed to lead Andretti's F1 project with Cadillac for 2026 debut, according to The Race.
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Former Lotus and Renault Formula 1 technical director Nick Chester has been selected to lead the formation and development of Andretti's F1 project, should the team's plans to enter the sport in 2026 with General Motors' Cadillac come to fruition, according to The Race.
Chester joined Andretti this month after ceasing his work with the McLaren Formula E team in February. Chester's position at McLaren has since been taken by ex-Ferrari F1 engineer Chris Dyer.
While Chester's former boss at McLaren, Ian James, confirmed his departure from the team last month, he did not reveal where Chester was now working. However, it is believed that Chester is starting to form a technical and engineering team to initially work from Andretti's UK headquarters in Banbury, with the aim of debuting in 2026 should Andretti Cadillac be granted an entry.
Chester is a well-regarded veteran of F1, having worked for multiple teams throughout his career, including Arrows, HRT, and Renault. He was the technical director at Lotus from 2014 to 2015 and Renault from 2016 to 2019. James spoke highly of Chester, praising his experience and calming influence on teams.
Andretti was the first prospective entrant to outline plans for an F1 bid when the FIA announced in January that it would open the entry process. Despite linking up with Cadillac for its formal bid, the team still faces substantial opposition from existing teams.