In a season where everyone is learning, Mario Andretti feels that Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are being a little over cautious as he urges Cadillac to "think big".

While fellow newcomers Audi can rely on experience gained from Sauber, not to mention its own illustrious history, Cadillac come in as total newbies and are consequently paying the price.

Though the American outfit is well off the pace in qualifying and clearly struggling in races, Mario Andretti, who has won in just about everything with wheels, remains confident.

"The main thing that really interests me is, I want to hear from the drivers, and that's really what it's all about," he tells the Drive to Wynn podcast. "To be honest with you, I think they're both just a little bit rusty," he adds. "They've both been out of the cockpit for at least one season.

"With the new package and everything else, they're being very careful, you know, just to participate, and not set anything back by maybe going out there and creating more work than needed.

"Initial comments? Clearly, I think we're lacking some downforce, especially rear stability," he admits. "That's what I keep hearing from both of them, things like that.

"But that's not only the problem that we have," the 1978 world champion admits. "We're not the only ones who have that issue. Outside of, say, Mercedes and Ferrari, it seems like everybody else is searching deeply how to really maximise their situation. It's going to be an interesting progress of the season, as to see who really puts their arms around it all.

"As a driver, I think, to be able to extract everything out of the chassis itself, now, all of a sudden, you've got to relearn how to use the throttle, how to use everything. So I'm not sure I am envying the drivers at the moment. I'm almost happy that I'm on the sideline."

The motorsport legend refuses to be tied down to predictions and schedules.

"Obviously, you have to be realistic," he says, "and as the season goes on, you want to feel that you're definitely progressing. Let's face it, toward the end of the season, you'd like to try to think that maybe you can start competing with the top ten consistently, maybe even better. So you've got to think big.

"But honestly, I've always done that, even to the point of being ridicule," he adds. "But that's the only way that you're ultimately going to accomplish what is important, to be able to be a factor and start winning races."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by JamesD, 28 minutes ago

"That's your conclusion Mario after 2 Grand Prix and a Sprint Race ? Poor form sir ! Cadillac are a brand new team, so I would suggest it's your cars that need improvement."

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2. Posted by Anthony, 7 hours ago

"I am sure that all Pitpass readers have a huge respect for Mario and all that he achieved. However, it does seem very arrogant to claim that these very experienced drivers are the problem. "

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3. Posted by ffracer, 8 hours ago

"I am absolutely shocked after reading this, on so many points hanging out the drivers like that.... thank God that they are driving the cars home to give the team as much data as possible for better educated decisions going forward. Today's racing is too synthetic, overly complicated and incomprehensibly expensive

With all due respect, Mario Andretti drove in a terrifyingly simpler time and was incredible behind the wheel of almost any racecar he got to drive because he got to test extensively, with his racecar on real race tracks learning the tires and fine tuning the setup or exposing the terrible components under real load. Today's Cadillac drivers, both experienced race winners and accomplished test drivers, must play on their ridiculously expensive video games because there is no inseason testing. Not even going to mention that he should apologize to these poor guys because he drive incredible racecars like the Lotus 49, Lotus 79, Ferrari 312B and 312P, Ford GT 40 and Porsche 908 without mentioning all the incredible Hawker,Penske, Wildcat and Lola Indycars.... not this controversial Mario Kart.

Gimme a break, Mario. Support your drivers, don't throw them under a simulator and definitely not after only a couple of races. Go have another expresso in your massive GM paddock facility and remember where you came from "

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4. Posted by Editor, 10 hours ago

"@ Max Noble

You're missing a few TMs and Copyright logos there my old mate."

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5. Posted by Max Noble, 10 hours ago

"I have no idea where you even begin to start to consider to… I think you get where I’m going. Mario. These guys are two GP winning safe pairs of hands… The. Car. Is. Crap. Text me if you need it explained further… oh. Sorry. Fax me…"

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Andretti feels Cadillac drivers are "a little bit rusty"

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