Alfa Romeo F1 Boss Reveals How Andretti Talks Impacted Their 2022 Driver Lineup Decision

Andretti’s interests in Formula 1 were once the talk of the town. Although the American team didn’t end up making it to the series, there were talks with Alfa Romeo. differences in management ultimately lead to the deal falling through; Fred Vasseur, the team’s CEO, explained how it slowed down their driver lineup announcement.

Alfa Romeo was the only team holding the driver’s market open. With only one seat left to lock in the 2022 lineup, everyone awaited the team’s announcement. However, on the side, there was the excitement that Andretti presented.

Formula One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 21, 2021 Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi in action REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Fred Vasseur commented in a recent interview. “It’s no secret that the company was in talks with some investors and that would not have been a significant change, but it could have been a new situation and we postponed the decision a bit.”

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When news of the deal falling through broke, neither Mario Andretti nor Vasseur gave away too much information; what we know is that the power dynamics were just not right. In this mess, Vasseur explains why the announcement was late. “But shortly after the discussions with this potential investor ended, we went ahead again. We wouldn’t have postponed it until the last Formula 2 event. We have been to Spa, Monza, and Sochi. Then there were talks with the investor and as a result, we pushed the whole thing forward in a week.”

A fresh lineup for Alfa Romeo in 2022

Regardless of the drama surrounding it, the pairing of Valtteri Bottas with Guanyu Zhou is an exciting one. Bottas brings with him some remarkable Mercedes experience. After racing with the best team in the series, it may not seem to be the best shift to Alfa Romeo. However, the tabula rasa of 2022 would give the Finn an even playing field.

Formula One F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. – October 22, 2021 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in the pits during practice REUTERS/Mike Blake

With their second driver, the Swiss team takes the opposite route. In giving their second seat to a rookie, Guanyu Zhou gives the team a fresh perspective. Fresh out of F2, the Chinese driver brings with him a lot of promise for the team. Zhou showed immense talent and speed in his road to the premier class; surely his time in the big league will be no different.

Nonetheless, this also means that F1 only has two more races with Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi. The drivers have been an integral part of the sport, and it would be heartbreaking to see them leave. In a paradoxical situation, Alfa Romeo has two more rounds to end the season strong, and then, it’s all eyes on 2022.

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