Marco Andretti not considering F1 move

Marco tested for Honda Racing before Christmas and that run has prompted speculation that the young American could be on his way across the Atlantic to race in F1 soon

However, speaking to Autosport, the young Andretti has said that he is not considering an F1 future yet - although admitted he would not wait forever to make the move if an offer came up.

"I've not even thought of getting an offer from F1, but, yeah, it would bug me," said Andretti. "I'd like to win the Indy 500, but that can take a lifetime to do.

"But there's always the option of coming back. Dad came back on top of the world when he came back to Champ Car after F1 and won his first race. I want the IndyCar title. If thoughts of F1 were even in the back of my mind then I wouldn't be focused enough."

Andretti has a contract with Andretti Green Racing until the end of 2008, which his father and team boss Michael is adamant will be honoured.

However, Andretti Sr. believes that by the time that deal ends then Michael will be ready for a move to F1 - although only if the circumstances are right.

"Whatever he does in the future will have to be done in the correct shape and form, without repeating the mistakes and the errors I made in the past," Andretti told Autosprint.

"If he decides to go to F1 it will have to be with the right team, without making a leap into the unknown. That's why before the test in Jerez I told him to think only about having fun, that his F1 career won't be built or destroyed based on how the first day goes."

Michael Andretti believes that two more years in the IRL will give Marco the perfect grounding for F1.

"I'm convinced of that and things will improve in 2007 when there will be more road courses," he explained. "To race on ovals remains however a great learning experience: you learn to respect the car, but also that the car must work for you and not the other way around.

"The combination of oval and road courses is the best possible for learning, and on top of that the level of competition is very hard.

"With this learning process I'm convinced that in 2009 Marco will be ready to race in F1 and fight with the best.

"At that time he will only be 21, with some unique experience for a driver of that age: he will have raced with very capable and experienced drivers and he will have managed to beat them using his head and his speed. We're interested in F1 but only with a great team, not just to be there and say we've made it."