Arrow McLaren has confirmed Christian Lundgaard for the 2025 IndyCar season, replacing Alexander Rossi in the #7 entry.
Christian Lundgaard has been confirmed as the replacement for Alexander Rossi in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren for 2025 IndyCar Series season.
The change comes after months of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate an extension with Rossi, who is managed by his father, leading to an amicable decision to split at the end of the season.
Lundgaard has been driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing ever since he made his IndyCar debut on the IMS road course in the middle of the 2021 season. He continued with the team for the past three years, and have given RLL its only win in that time with a victory on the streets of Toronto in 2023.
The move completes the team’s recent efforts to revamp its NTT IndyCar Series lineup and presents the young Dane with a chance to vie for greater success in one of IndyCar’s top four teams.
“I’m excited to have my plans set for 2025 and beyond, and I’m thrilled it’s with Arrow McLaren,” said Lundgaard.
“I have a lot of respect for Zak [Brown], Gavin [Ward], Tony [Kanaan] and the team, and I think Pato [O’Ward], Nolan [Siegel] and I will work well together.
“I’m focused 100% on finishing this season strong with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. We have a lot of the season left, but this is a huge weight off my shoulders that will hopefully let me compete at my best the next nine races.”
With the 22-year-old Lundgaard headed over from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Arrow McLaren’s roster in 2025 will become the youngest in IndyCar with O’Ward (25), Lundgaard (23), and Nolan Siegel (19).
It also marks the end of Rossi’s two-year run for Arrow McLaren. He joined from Andretti Global in 2023 and has generated two podiums in the No. 7 entry. He currently holds seventh in the drivers’ championship, one position behind teammate Pato O’Ward.
“Alexander [Rossi] has been an incredible team-mate, and we’re grateful for our two seasons with him,” team Principal Gavin Ward said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without him.
“Ultimately we couldn’t meet in the middle on terms, but we absolutely wish him the best and will do all we can the second half of the season to get him in the top five in the championship.
“Christian [Lundgaard] has had proven success in his few seasons racing in the series, and he checks the boxes for what we’re looking for in speed and potential alongside Pato and Nolan.
“The three make up the youngest trio on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid, and we know that direction has been paying off for our F1 counterparts with Lando [Norris] and Oscar [Piastri].
“We’re looking toward our long-term goal of sustained high performance, and I believe with these three drivers and the ongoing support of Arrow and all our amazing partners, we’re taking a good step in that direction for 2025.”
Rossi did not announce where he will be driving next season, but his statement seemed to indicate that the ending of his relationship with Arrow McLaren was mutual.
“My time at Arrow McLaren, while it’s been only short two seasons, has been rewarding in many ways,” said Rossi. “I’m grateful to have been part of the team’s internal growth.
“The No. 7 crew is fantastic, and I’ve built a lot of long-lasting friendships with the team. Zak, Gavin, Tony and I had many conversations over the last several months on my future with the team.
“We were not able to come to terms on a new deal, so the mutual decision to part ways is amicable. I’m very confident with current discussions in the paddock to land a new spot.
“I’ll have good news to follow soon, and meanwhile I’m focused on a top-five finish in the 2024 championship and a strong conclusion to my time in papaya.”
McLaren originally hired David Malukas following Palou’s refusal to join the team for this year but he was dropped from the team after he suffered a pre-season injury. Theo Pourchaire was initially named his replacement, but he was dropped for Siegel last month.
