Now Andretti driver linked with last Alfa Romeo F1 seat?
Oct.9 - Formula F1 driver Michael Andretti "has already taken over 80 percent" of the Swiss-based Formula 1 team currently known as Alfa Romeo.
That is the claim of veteran Swiss F1 journalist Roger Benoit, whose report in Blick newspaper mirrors widespread rumours in the Istanbul paddock.
Team boss Frederic Vasseur, who runs Sauber Motorsport at Hinwil and at the grands prix, is not yet ready to confirm the news.
"If all the reports I've read in the last few weeks were true, we'd have sold the team 25 times already," he said.
"I hope the current owners got some good business out of it. In the end, it's they who will decide."
Andretti, the son of F1 legend Mario, is now a major player in the chiefly US-based motor racing industry, with teams in Indycar, Formula E and elsewhere.
The transaction could explain why Alfa Romeo is now the only team in pitlane with an official race driver vacancy for 2022.
It had been rumoured that the well-financed Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou had secured the place, but Vasseur now insists that a driver agreeing to a "one-year deal" may be a wiser choice.
Top of the list now may be Formula 2 frontrunner and Australian Oscar Piastri - but the issue with that is his links with the Renault-Alpine program.
"When you are taking a young driver with a new car and starting a new journey, I think it would make much more sense to have the possibility to extend the contract," said Vasseur.
"Not a multi-year contract but at least to be sure that you won't lose the driver after year one."
Vasseur's personal favourite is Theo Pourchaire, but 2022 would be too soon for his 18-year-old fellow Frenchman.
So the latest name linked with the team is Andretti's top Indycar driver, 21-year-old Colton Herta.
When asked why the identity of Valtteri Bottas' 2022 teammate is so delayed, Vasseur said in Turkey: "Because we are discussing with all the parties involved and it's not an easy choice.
"We will take a decision in the next couple of weeks most probably."
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i wonder if its disclosed in the plc accounts, as a public company they have to declare things, but it may be delayed within accounting regulations i suppose, if like many other rumours in f1 , its in fact true lol
Budkowski said in the Russian GP Friday press conference they wouldn't block their drivers from joining other teams.
I doubt about Herta for next season, but this whole takeover thing is interesting if indeed true.
It would be great to see another attempt at F1 by a US driver and Herta seems to have the chops. Will he get the opportunity?.....is he interested?. The whole Michael Andretti thing has me befuddled (easy to do). I know that he has been warned off the idea, but he has always been stubborn so perhaps it's true. We'll see. Meanwhile, fun stuff.
Andretti is a public company now isn't it , so they'll have raised a few hundred million $$ and if its true they are expanding , i mean Zaks just doing the same but from our side of the pond, risk wise , it wont be Andretti's money, it'll be the poor shareholders that could catch a cold , but heh wait and see i suppose, edit above with period not regulations .
Still private but looking to do a $250m IPO. That is still not F1 money, and this venture will scare the crap out of real investors. He's getting bad advice outside his family and friends circle. We'll see.
ah yes i see that now apologies to all, although im half right...lol
FYI His name is Colton Herta not Colin Herta
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