Now with Andretti, Will Power was able to discover his new team during testing.

Seeing Will Power get into the No. 26 Andretti Dallara-Honda at Phoenix, during a test session aimed at determining the tires brought by Firestone for the return of the Arizona oval in IndyCarThere was something strange about it. The Australian driver, a two-time champion in the discipline and winner of the 2018 Indianapolis 500, had become synonymous with the No. 12 car sponsored by Verizon, at Penske. So much so that even for him, arriving at the track and not heading straight for the Penske motorhome was surprising!

"It was quite strange, when I arrived at the circuit, I saw the whole Penske team... and I went to Andretti's!" he told the official IndyCar website. “It’s basically the same thing, you work with people, you try to get the most out of the car. For me, this team has a lot of potential, it’s a very good team, which won three races last year. I thought at the beginning of 2025 that if I could finish at Andretti, that wouldn’t be bad, and that’s the case. I’m delighted to be here and I want to get good results.”

He arrived during the off-season but was unable to test his new car. car Before the new year, the 44-year-old Australian (he will celebrate his 45th birthday on the day of the first race of the season, March 1st) was pleased to have completed a few laps on the Phoenix oval. IndyCar returns there for the first time this year since 2018, after three races where Will Power twice finished on the podium, without winning.

“It’s crucial, I was very happy when I learned I was going to take part in the tire tests! It’s an opportunity to discover the car, and also to discover the team I’ll be working with this season. We don’t have a lot of test sessions, so every time we can drive, we have to make the most of it.”

It's a "waste" to retire now.

While rumors suggested he might retire at the end of the 2025 season, Will Power admitted that he went through a period of introspection before committing to a new project. Ultimately, the thirst for victory and the desire to prove to everyone, including himself, that he could adapt to a new environment and remain competitive, were the two driving forces behind his decision.

“I love driving, I love competition, and I’ve been wondering how I could perform in another team. It’s something I’ve always asked myself. I wasn’t ready to retire; I still love the sport immensely, I can still win races, I’m still very fast, and I have a wealth of experience. I felt it would be a waste to stop. I think changing teams motivates you to prove it was a good choice. Once we’re fighting for results, I’ll behave the same way I always have. I’ll prepare myself as much as possible to be in the best position to achieve good results.”

Without numerical data, it's difficult to judge this first test session with Andretti for Will Power, but the important thing is elsewhere. Before a second session later in the month, ahead of the first race in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Australian and his team will be able to analyze a wealth of data and, above all, the working relationship between all the team members, in order to arrive with a well-oiled machine for the first race of the year.

"It's a great start, because we'll have something to talk about. We'll have another test session as well, so we can look at improvements, changes... Basic things too, like the position in the car, the debriefings, that sort of thing. It's really useful to have been able to participate in these tests."

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