Lawrence Stroll says having the Andretti name back in Formula One would be a “great addition” to the sport if “it’s true”.
Andretti Autosport, owned by Michael Andretti, is in talks with Sauber’s owners Longbow Finance to acquire an 80 percent stake in the team currently known as Alfa Romeo.
It was believed that an announcement could be made as early as this weekend at the United States Grand Prix, but an agreement has yet to be reached as negotiations are reported to be ongoing, they have just encountered a stumbling block.
Should Andretti, who was recently spotted at the Sauber headquarters in Hinwil, buy the team, he will compete in the world championship against Stroll, the Canadian owns the Aston Martin F1 team.
“Andretti is a great name,” Stroll told Reuters. “I know the family and I think they would be a great addition to the sport if that’s true.
“I don’t know much about it, other than when I heard in the paddock at the last race that something might be going on there.
“I think they did a SPAC in the US and said they would try to buy something in motorsport. I understand it completely, I see the logic. “
The SPAC that Stroll is talking about is the acquisition company Andretti, which plans to raise $ 250 million through a public offer.
Stroll believes that now is a good time for someone like Andretti to get involved in Formula 1 and welcomes the introduction of the budget cap as a game changer.
As of this season, all teams are working below a ceiling of $ 145 million, a far cry from the $ 450 million that Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have spent.
Hopefully the cap, along with next year’s brand new cars, will level the playing field.
“Everyone is very focused on making sure that each of us is profitable,” said Stroll. “And Formula 1 teams, if properly managed, will be very profitable companies.
“It’s a lot easier to win when you beat the competition. That’s gone now … it’s in the sweet spot of this team that has done more with less in the past.
“We will be able to achieve more, we will reach the peak of the budget ceiling, we will be at the very top.”
Andretti’s interest in Sauber shook the race for the last racing seat in 2022.
While it was thought that Guanyu Zhou would lead the race, Andretti is interested in bringing IndyCar driver Colton Herta on as a team-mate from Valtteri Bottas.
Bottas has a multi-year contract with the team and will remain independent of the owner.
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