We’ve introduced some of the biggest names in F1® history to F1® Clash! You can now add legendary drivers to your team, including Alain Prost, David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher and Sir Jackie Stewart.

 To celebrate the update we’ll be posting about all of the epic drivers featured and in this post, and next up, it's Mario Andretti!

Mario Andretti is one of the most famous names in the history of motorsport and a name synonymous with motorsport excellence.

Mario was born in Italy in 1940 and didn’t emigrate to the United States until age fifteen. At 19, he began racing stock cars in Pennsylvania and that was the start of an illustrious career that saw the versatile driver compete and win in every discipline he entered – midgets, sprint cars, dirt track cars, stock cars, IndyCars, Formula One, Formula 5000 and sports cars.

His achievements became legendary: The world watched as he won the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500 and ultimately the Formula One World Championship, an unprecedented trifecta. No other race car driver has ever won all three titles. Mario took the checkered flag 111 times during his career – a career that stretched five decades and across six continents.

He competed in 128 Formula One races and had 12 wins and 18 poles. In 1978, he achieved his ultimate goal – the Formula One World Championship. It was this achievement that elevated him to international acclaim.

It was in1971 that Andretti made his entry into Formula One with the Lotus team. His debut season included a victory at the South African Grand Prix, a testament to his adaptability and innate racing instincts. Throughout his Formula One career, he showcased his ability to perform consistently on a global stage, making him one of the sport’s prominent figures.

The pinnacle of Andretti’s Formula One journey came in 1978 when he secured the coveted World Drivers’ Championship, driving for Team Lotus. This remarkable achievement made him the first and only American driver to win the championship since Phil Hill in 1961. The 1978 season was marked by a string of impressive performances and race victories, solidifying Andretti’s place in motorsport history.

Throughout his Formula One career which resulted in a final total of 19 podiums and 12 race wins, Mario Andretti drove for esteemed teams such as Lotus, Ferrari, and Williams, competing against legendary rivals like Niki Lauda and James Hunt. He demonstrated remarkable adaptability, proving his mettle on a variety of circuits.

His enduring legacy is a testament to his remarkable skills, versatility, and the unwavering determination that allowed him to triumph in the demanding world of motorsport.

Mario Andretti’s contribution to Formula One extends far beyond his championship victory, with his remarkable career exemplifying the enduring spirit of a true racer, one who transcends boundaries and excels on any racing platform.

In 1994 at the age of 54, he said “arrivederci” to racing. He has since received hundreds of awards and recognitions. Among the most prestigious, he was named Driver of the Century by the Associated Press, he was knighted by his native Italy, and the Library of Congress in Washington DC added him to its Living Legends list. And on the lighter side, but undoubtedly affirmation of his charisma and popularity, he was in the first Pixar Cars movie voicing himself and GQ Magazine named him one of “The 25 Coolest Athletes of All Time”.