Rumor: Latifi to step down to IndyCar in 2023 (3rd Update)
Nicholas Latifi has given some insight into his future amid speculation that he might switch to IndyCar, after Williams chose not to retain him for 2023.
The Canadian believes that a step to IndyCar would be “the most logical” after reports emerged that he had signed a deal with a team for next season, but admits that his plans for 2023 remain unconfirmed.
“At the moment, I’m still keeping all the options open and kind of just evaluating all the options in that sense,” he said, speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast.
“What seems like the most obvious route to most fans and people from the outside, is obviously making the switch to IndyCar.
“It’s still Formula cars, it’s obviously extremely top-level racing, it’s a very exciting series, it’s spec racing, like a more advanced Formula 2 championship, but there’s also other avenues as well.”
While Latifi is open to the idea of making the switch to IndyCar, he says that despite rumors, he hasn’t signed any contract with a team yet.
“I mean, if I’m going off a few reports from a week or so ago, I’m already committed and signed the deal and then that’s what I’m doing.
“It was actually quite funny in Austin because so many people who are just fans were saying ‘Oh, congrats on the IndyCar deal’ and it’s all just like [as I’m] walking and passing by.
“But I haven’t decided on anything yet. There are options in different categories.”
“Being a Formula car driver racing in Europe, I guess you kind of get molded to the opinion that formula car racing on ovals is dangerous. For sure, it is more dangerous than racing on short tracks or road tracks.
“If I were to do IndyCar, I would want to do the ovals because I wouldn’t want to take myself out of potential championship points, especially if I were to do it for multiple years.
“If I didn’t do all those the first year, then in the second year I do them, I’d still be having to learn and get on top of it, which that’s arguably when you’re more in a position to fight for podiums and wins and championships.
“I did have the opinion at some point that they are very dangerous and unsafe, [but] in recent years less so, it’s definitely something I would want to do.”
October 21, 2022
(GMM) Nicholas Latifi has slammed the “poor journalism” that this week predicted a move from Formula 1 to IndyCar for 2023. (Note: This rumor has not been downgraded to ‘false’)
The Canadian has been ousted by Williams after three seasons, with his likely successor – American Logan Sargeant – rumored to be announced in Austin this weekend.
“Follow the news on Saturday,” team boss Jost Capito, whose team revealed a ‘pop-up’ US-themed livery ahead of the US GP, said at the Circuit of the Americas.
The only issue for 21-year-old rookie Sargeant, who is third in the current Formula 2 standings, is that he may not get the necessary points for a mandatory F1 super license.
As for Latifi’s next move, the 27-year-old bristled at reports this week that his move to IndyCar – replacing Jimmie Johnson at Chip Ganassi – is set in stone.
“This news is completely false,” he told Le Journal de Montreal in Austin.
“I have never talked to Ganassi (but his manager has) or other teams in IndyCar. It’s poor journalism.”
However, Latifi is not ruling out a move to America’s top open wheeler category.
“But nothing is signed, and I will have no announcements to make in the short term,” he said ahead of the US GP.
As for the false reports of a Chip Ganassi contract, Latifi says he actually “had a good laugh” rather than getting angry.
“The important thing for me is to finish my season on a good note and to focus on the events that remain for me in Formula 1,” he said.
“Afterwards, we will see the opportunities that will be offered to me,” admitting that a 2023 ‘sabbatical’ cannot be ruled out.
What is basically ruled out, however, is a F1 reserve seat for 2023 – which is rumored to be the next move for the similarly-embattled Daniel Ricciardo.
“I will only accept such a position if I am sure that a full-time seat is promised to me afterwards,” said Latifi. (GMM)
October 19, 2022
(GMM) Nicholas Latifi looks set to keep his racing career alive in the top American open wheeler series IndyCar.
Williams is yet to announce the 27-year-old Canadian’s 2023 replacement, but insiders expect it is a head-to-head between Mick Schumacher and Logan Sargeant.
American Sargeant, 21, is Williams’ most prominent development driver who will make his Friday practice debut for the Grove-based team in Austin.
The famous team is now owned by New York-based private investment company Dorilton Capital, with Williams is celebrating its new American identity with a US-themed livery.
Williams boss Jost Capito admits Latifi simply didn’t live up to expectations.
“Nicky drove for Williams three years now, and we agreed the objectives – the kind of performance that had to be achieved throughout the year.
“I think Nicky wasn’t happy with not achieving these objectives and the team neither. So on both sides, it is time for a change for both.”
The change for Latifi will occur outside of Formula 1, as rumors suggest he will replace the well-known driver Jimmie Johnson at Chip Ganassi’s IndyCar team from 2023.
Latifi is not ready to announce any deal.
“I don’t really have much detail to give you,” he said. “I’ve definitely been exploring all the options, let’s say.
“I was always asked ‘What if F1 doesn’t work out’ and I was always kind of ‘I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it’.
“Obviously that bridge has come this year, a few weeks ago. So I’m in the process of just kind of evaluating all the options really.”
October 19, 2022
Rumor has it that sacked Canadian Williams F1 driver Nicholas Latifi will step down to IndyCar in 2023, possibly driving the 4th Ganassi Racing entry.
Latifi’s father Michael is a billionaire and funded much of his F1 effort, but with the poor results Latifi achieved in F1, Williams did not want to keep him on after this season.
Michael Mehrdad Latifi is an Iranian-Canadian businessman. He is the owner, Chairman and CEO of Sofina Foods Inc., a Markham, Ontario-based manufacturer of processed animal products.
If the rumor is true, Latifi will then get to race closer to his Canadian family all year in the IndyCar series, joining fellow Canadian Devlin De Francesco.
With rumors F1 would like IndyCar to be a support race for all five North American F1 races (Miami, Montreal, Austin, Las Vegas and Mexico City) things could be looking up for the series and Latifi would get to visit his F1 friends on those weekends.
Last Updated October 19, 2022
| 2023 IndyCar Silly Season Page |
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| Team | Engine | No. | Driver | Primary Sponsor | Rating | Comments |
| AJ Foyt Racing |
Chevy |
11 | Benjamin Pederson | Rokit | Fact | Ovals Only |
| 14 | Santino Ferrucci | Fact | Signed | |||
Andretti Autosport |
Honda |
26 |
Colton Herta | Gainbridge | Fact | Signed |
| 27 | Kyle Kirkwood | NAPA and AutoNation | Fact | Signed | ||
| 28 | Romain Grosjean | DHL | Fact | Signed | ||
| 29 | Devlin DeFrancesco | Power Tap Hydrogen? | Fact | Signed | ||
| Arrow McLaren SP | Chevy | 5 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow | Fact | Signed |
| 27 | Alexander Rossi | Arrow | Fact | Signed | ||
| 7 | Felix Rosenqvist | Arrow | Fact | Signed | ||
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 8 | Marcus Ericsson | Huski Chocolate | Fact | Signed |
| 9 | Scott Dixon | PNC Bank | Fact | Signed | ||
| 10 | Alex Palou | NTT Data | Fact | Signed | ||
| 11 | Nicholas Latifi | Sofina Foods | Strong | Canadian F1 Driver | ||
| 48 | Kimi Raikkonen Jimmie Johnson |
Carvana | Speculation | Kimi – Non-Ovals Jimmie – Ovals |
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| Dale Coyne Racing w/HMD Motorsports | Honda | 18 | David Malukas | HMD | Fact | Signed |
| 51 | Takuma Sato | Honda money | Fact | Signed | ||
| Dreyer Reinbold |
Chevy |
24 | Sage Karam | WIX | Speculation | Indy 500 Only |
| 23 | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | ||||
| Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevy |
21 | Rinus Veekay | Sonax | Fact | Signed |
| 20 |
Conor Daly | BitNile | Fact | Full Season | ||
| 33 | Ed Carpenter | TBD | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | ||
| Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Chevy | 77 | Callum Ilott | TBD | Fact | Signed full season |
| 78 | Agustin Canapino | TBD | Strong | Argentina Driver | ||
| Meyer Shank Racing | Honda | 60 | Simon Pagenaud | AutoNation and SiriusXM | Fact | Signed |
| 06 | Helio Castroneves | TBD | Fact | Signed | ||
| Paretta Autosport | Chevy | 16 | Simona De Silvestro | TBD | Strong | Indy 500 Only |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan | Honda | 15 | Graham Rahal | United Rentals | Fact | Signed |
| 30 |
Christian Lundgaard | TBD | Fact | Signed | ||
| 45 | Jack Harvey | Hy-Vee | Fact | Signed | ||
| Team Penske | Chevy | 2 | Josef Newgarden | Hitachi | Fact | Signed |
| 3 | Scott McLaughlin | Shell, PPG | Fact | Signed | ||
| 12 | Will Power | Verizon | Fact | Signed | ||