Although almost all cockpits have been taken for the 2024 season, the “silly season” in Formula 1 is in full swing. Carlos Sainz from Ferrari and McLaren’s shooting star Lando Norris are currently once again in the rumor mill.
Even though Formula 1 drivers Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) are tied to their current employers until the end of 2024 and Lando Norris (McLaren) even until 2025, speculation about their future in the premier class of motorsport continues.
According to “El Nacional”, both drivers are said to have been targeted by Michael Andretti. The former racing driver plans to enter Formula 1 as the eleventh team with the help of the US car manufacturer General Motors, ideally the year after next.
Then the current basic contract also applies, which stipulates that every new addition has to pay around 189 million euros in admission fee, which is distributed among the existing teams. This amount is to be increased significantly from 2026.
It is still unclear whether Andretti will join the team due to the negative attitude of the established racing teams. What is clear, at least in broad terms, is how the US team plans to staff the cockpit if the Formula 1 adventure can actually start.
In addition to a young American, an experienced F1 driver will also take a seat in the Andretti car.
Formula 1: Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris as Andretti candidates?
According to the Spanish portal “El Nacional”, Sainz is a candidate. The 29-year-old was also recently traded to Audi, which is now taking over Sauber’s place in F1 from 2026. At Red Bull, Sainz should also be an alternative if Sergio Perez no longer works.
In addition to Sainz, the report also mentions Norris as an option for Andretti. The Brit is only 24 years old, but he has been chasing points for McLaren since 2019 and is now considered one of the best drivers in the field.
According to “El Nacional”, signing the former Formula 3 champion would be complicated for Andretti. Norris has also recently been repeatedly linked with a move to Red Bull.