IndyCar driver Kyle Kirkwood is hopeful that he will be considered
for a Formula 1 drive with Andretti if its bid to join the grid is
successful. Andretti is currently in discussions with Formula 1
over establishing an 11th squad after it met the FIA’s criteria
earlier this year. Kirkwood currently races for Andretti Autosport
in the IndyCar Series after competing for A.J. Foyt Enterprises
during his rookie campaign last season. The 25-year-old had a
successful first year with Andretti in IndyCar as he won the races
staged at Long Beach and Nashville. Team owner Michael Andretti has
long voiced his desire to field an American driver if he brings his
operations to F1, and Kirkwood hopes that he would be considered.
“Yeah, I would hope that he would consider me,” Kirkwood told
Autosport . “But I think for me right now, I’m extremely happy in
the situation that I’m in. I love being US-based. I love being able
to go to Florida and the time off that you get in IndyCar versus
F1. I like the minimal amount of travelling that you have here in
IndyCar. There’s a lot of things in F1 that take away from… it’s
an extreme change from IndyCar to F1. That being said, I think
growing up as a young kid in karting, was always the number one
thing that you wanted to do.” ‘Hard to say no’ Kirkwood revealed
that he holds an affection for F1 and insisted it would be
difficult to turn down any opportunity to be part of the series.
“Yeah, it would be hard for me to say no to anything over there,”
Kirkwood admitted. “That just stems from being a young kid in
karting and looking up to all the F1 guys. I remember thinking when
I was really young that if I just drove an F1 car, that would make
my life complete. “Then I remember that changing and being like,
‘Oh, well if I drive an Indy car and whatnot, then my life would be
complete because this is the direction that I change towards.”
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