After rejecting McLaren’s proposals to stay with their IndyCar team beyond 2024, Alexander Rossi now has a big choice to make regarding his future.
The next move he makes could decide whether he ends up ever challenging for an IndyCar championship again, or ends up plodding around at the back of the field for a few seasons.
His form this year has shown that his skills show no signs of decline, finishing in the top 10 unless he gets ravaged by mechanic issues or crazy incidents.
A man with such experience across all forms of racing is in demand for 2025, so looking at his options, who are the teams chasing him and who is he most likely to join?
Four teams ‘front-runners’ to sign Alexander Rossi for 2025
According to Indystar, Chip Ganassi Racing, Meyer Shank Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and PREMA Racing are all ‘in talks’ with the American.
Clearly, the best of those options would be Chip Ganassi, but some circumstances have to change for that opportunity to fall his way.
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With IndyCar’s upcoming charter program and PREMA’s introduction to the sport, two of their current five entries will have to qualify to race every weekend.
They could trim their operation back to three cars, amid a new technical partnership with Meyer Shank Racing, or they could opt to run four.
But Rossi is unlikely to be attracted by a situation that places so much pressure on him being allowed to race every weekend.
Are any of the smaller teams an option for Rossi?
The next most competitive on the list would be Meyer Shank themselves, but they have been sharing interest in Marcus Armstrong lately and Rossi’s wage demands could be a stumbling block.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan are competitive, but wages again, as well as a youth policy could be a problem for a team who seem to be set on nurturing younger talent.
Finally, PREMA are the new kids on the block and could be left needing to qualify for every race if Chip Ganassi decide to continue with four or five entries.
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They will also need a few years to properly get up to speed – it’s the sort of long-term project akin to Audi’s Formula 1 entry.
It would require acknowledgement and commitment from both sides to sign on the dotted line, as well as a rosy cheque the way of Rossi for him to manage the task of bringing the new outfit the top with his experience.