2022/2023 Silly Season

[bjohnsonsmith]

2022/2023 Silly Season.

The Silly Season is well underway, with Rossi expected to go to Arrows McLaren SP
https://racer.com/2022/06/01/rossi-t...expected-soon/

and Kirkwood replacing Rossi at Andretti Autosport.
https://racer.com/2022/06/01/andrett...-out-for-2023/

[FIRE]

Rossi confirmed at Arrow McLaren.

[rwintle]

This seems to have started a wee bit earlier than usual, no?

Anyway... to add some speculation, this article doesn't clarify whether this is a third AMSP car, or whether Rosenqvist might be on the way out. It *seems to imply that Rossi is adding to the existing line-up - but I guess we'll see. O'Ward of course is confirmed on a multi-year deal, so he'll still be around.

https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/06/06-02-rossi-amsp

[joeb]

Originally Posted by rwintle

This seems to have started a wee bit earlier than usual, no?

Anyway... to add some speculation, this article doesn't clarify whether this is a third AMSP car, or whether Rosenqvist might be on the way out. It *seems to imply that Rossi is adding to the existing line-up - but I guess we'll see. O'Ward of course is confirmed on a multi-year deal, so he'll still be around.

https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/06/06-02-rossi-amsp

I hope it is a 3rd car. Felix is currently in the top 10 in drivers standings despite not having the most solid year.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by rwintle

This seems to have started a wee bit earlier than usual, no?

Anyway... to add some speculation, this article doesn't clarify whether this is a third AMSP car, or whether Rosenqvist might be on the way out. It *seems to imply that Rossi is adding to the existing line-up - but I guess we'll see. O'Ward of course is confirmed on a multi-year deal, so he'll still be around.

https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/06/06-02-rossi-amsp

I don't think 3rd vs Rossi replacing Rosenqvist has been settled. It sounds like without a great finish and some funding they might be a 2 car with occasional 3rd car program. But Zak had been making noise about moving up to a 3 car for the last year and a better 3rd really isn't out there.

[bjohnsonsmith]

McLaren Racing has signed a multi-year deal with Felix Rosenqvist.

https://racer.com/2022/06/23/rosenqv...-mclaren-deal/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

McLaren Racing has signed a multi-year deal with Felix Rosenqvist.

https://racer.com/2022/06/23/rosenqv...-mclaren-deal/

But where will he race? I guess at the very least 3rd car for Indy? Maybe full season 3rd car?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by joeb

But where will he race? I guess at the very least 3rd car for Indy? Maybe full season 3rd car?

McLaren’s announcement went on to stated that “the full Arrow McLaren SP and McLaren Formula E 2023 driver line-ups will be confirmed in due course.”

From the end of the Racer article, hope he likes electric cars at least part time. I would guess Indy and FE likely but Zak been making a racket about 3 cars and Vuse has a leg up with Juul being booted from US sales this morning.

[mstets]

Ganassi and McLaren both claiming Palou for 2023.



https://racer.com/2022/07/12/ganassi...ices-for-2023/


I would like to know what Palou sees as a better opportunity at McLaren? Is it the possibility of a chance at F1? AMSP has performed at a much better level recently, but they don't have the consistent top 5 results that CGR has this season. By my count CGR drivers have 11 top 5 finishes this year compared to AMSP's 5. Granted that CGR regularly has 3 drivers competing for those spots where AMSP has only 2, but CGR still looks like a stronger team even though Honda seems to be a bit behind Chevrolet this year.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by mstets

Ganassi and McLaren both claiming Palou for 2023.



https://racer.com/2022/07/12/ganassi...ices-for-2023/


I would like to know what Palou sees as a better opportunity at McLaren? Is it the possibility of a chance at F1? AMSP has performed at a much better level recently, but they don't have the consistent top 5 results that CGR has this season. By my count CGR drivers have 11 top 5 finishes this year compared to AMSP's 5. Granted that CGR regularly has 3 drivers competing for those spots where AMSP has only 2, but CGR still looks like a stronger team even though Honda seems to be a bit behind Chevrolet this year.

Erm yes, Ganassi far better option atm.
Unless of course Alex feels Ericcson is getting a better deal on track, in addition to Scott being team leader aa such?

If I was Pato i'd be wondering why the team isn't focussed more on getting the engineering and strategy as good as it can be for the current drivers instead of messing about in the market.

[gert]

Originally Posted by mstets

I would like to know what Palou sees as a better opportunity at McLaren? Is it the possibility of a chance at F1?

Probably yes.

[gomick]

Won the championship at CGR, maybe needs a new challenge as well... Possibly doesnt like the fact Ericsson won the Indy 500 and leads the series

[NaBUru38]

It's like IndyCar got inspired by F1 and chose to focus on off-track drama.

[bjohnsonsmith]

An interesting article from Marshall Pruett, on the AMSP-Palou-CGR conundrum.

https://racer.com/2022/07/13/pruett-...in-the-making/

[Formulahistory]

the big question now is, who will replace Alex Palou or (what's more likely I think) will Ganassi go down to 3 fulltime cars?

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Formulahistory

the big question now is, who will replace Alex Palou or (what's more likely I think) will Ganassi go down to 3 fulltime cars?

This whole thing looks like a game laying solution to me and Zak is playing the game.
He wants the best drivers and to run three cars...
Now he chases Palou and Dixon, after all Palou replaced Rosenquist....
Then he talks to Alex and Scott Dixon and sounds them out.
It seems like no because both are under contract or CGR has an option so it goes uiet.

Then CGR post a release that they have an option on Palou and will exercise it but Palou may have had a better offer from Zak and indicated interest or commitment.
Zak has taken one CGR (Rosenquist) driver, now hooks another one (Palou) to replace the CGR driver he had already (Rosenquist) just after he had re-signed the Rosenquist, which prevents Rosenquist from going back to CGR and stops Chip from putting him in the 10 car.

I still think Chip will run 4 cars in 2023....

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

This whole thing looks like a game laying solution to me and Zak is playing the game.
He wants the best drivers and to run three cars...
Now he chases Palou and Dixon, after all Palou replaced Rosenquist....
Then he talks to Alex and Scott Dixon and sounds them out.
It seems like no because both are under contract or CGR has an option so it goes uiet.

Then CGR post a release that they have an option on Palou and will exercise it but Palou may have had a better offer from Zak and indicated interest or commitment.
Zak has taken one CGR (Rosenquist) driver, now hooks another one (Palou) to replace the CGR driver he had already (Rosenquist) just after he had re-signed the Rosenquist, which prevents Rosenquist from going back to CGR and stops Chip from putting him in the 10 car.

I still think Chip will run 4 cars in 2023....

Some nice theories but CGR let Felix go, McLaren didn’t steal him from them.

There’s only 3 possible reasons Palou wants to leave CGR:

1. Money (most likely)

2. Some F1 promise (quite likely)

3. CGR actually don’t really want him (not likely)

[NaBUru38]

McLaren is hiring more drivers than available seats.

[gert]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

McLaren is hiring more drivers than available seats.

They have 5 or 6 available I think?
* 3x Indycar
* 2x Formula E
* 0 or 1x Formula 1 (Norris is locked in, but is Ricciardo?)

Add to that a F1 test contract, that does not necessarily have to be 1 of the Indycar of Formula E drivers.

[NaBUru38]

According to well-sourced Spanish journalist Charly Barazal, Palou's contract extension with Ganassi requires his signature (and won't give it). I wouldn't think that's the case. But The Race claims the same.

Meanwhile, O'Ward's contract with McLaren would have a US$ 3 million buyout clause.

Anyway, Barazal thinks that Ganassi will require McLaren some money to release Palou and swap him for O'Ward. Which means that the conflict will be solved like that... if they agree about money.

[NaBUru38]

So why would McLaren drop O'Ward?

Well, it seems that he is unhappy at the team, presumably because he isn't getting any F1 testing.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

So why would McLaren drop O'Ward?

Well, it seems that he is unhappy at the team, presumably because he isn't getting any F1 testing.

I think it is more to do with poor results, which weren't his fault at Road America, where he finished 26th with an engine issue and at Mid-Ohio, where he finished 24th with a fuel system issue.

Despite the poor result at Road America, he went into Mid-Ohio in 4th place in the driver's championship with 248 points. He got pole and was looking good for the win but the car packed in. If he had won, he would have had at least 299 points, which would have put him up into the top three in the driver's championship, going into Toronto. Instead he is now 5th with 256 points.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I think it is more to do with poor results, which weren't his fault at Road America, where he finished 26th with an engine issue and at Mid-Ohio, where he finished 24th with a fuel system issue.

Despite the poor result at Road America, he went into Mid-Ohio in 4th place in the driver's championship with 248 points. He got pole and was looking good for the win but the car packed in. If he had won, he would have had at least 299 points, which would have put him up into the top three in the driver's championship, going into Toronto. Instead he is now 5th with 256 points.

I sense the same but does he really want to throw away a strong link to F1?

If he doesn't get the FP1 test before the end of the year then I think he might leave but that would likely end any F1 ambitions.

[gert]

A combination of factors?


He started the season as de-facto team leader, with a nice link to the F1 team, and a chance to get seat time.

Then
A. His Indycar has too many realibility problems and good results are thrown away
B. They sign Herta to the F1 test team which already has Turvey and Stevens (and Vandoorne and De Vries as reserve drivers)
C. They sign Rossi for the Indycar team
D. They sign Palou for the Indycar AND the F1 testing programme

That should raise a few questions about
A. His status in the Indycar team
B. His status in the F1 test programme
C. His chances as a future F1 driver


To me, it seems like he has been put further down the queue on all 3.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by gert

A combination of factors?


He started the season as de-facto team leader, with a nice link to the F1 team, and a chance to get seat time.

Then
A. His Indycar has too many realibility problems and good results are thrown away
B. They sign Herta to the F1 test team which already has Turvey and Stevens (and Vandoorne and De Vries as reserve drivers)
C. They sign Rossi for the Indycar team
D. They sign Palou for the Indycar AND the F1 testing programme

That should raise a few questions about
A. His status in the Indycar team
B. His status in the F1 test programme
C. His chances as a future F1 driver


To me, it seems like he has been put further down the queue on all 3.

So either

He wasn't as good as reported in Abu Dhabi.

Or

The team have taken umbrage over the contact negotiation?!