Grand Primer: A dozen new teams lodge bids to enter F1
Whatever the outcome of the standoff between the Formula One Teams Association and the FIA, it was clear from the get-go that F1 was to change dramatically. As it turned out, the two parties – the first representing the teams currently participating in the sport and the second its governing body – have apparently reconciled their differences.
But as it turns out, even if all of the existing teams walked, the FIA would still have had a field of eager teams ready to take their place – that's one heck of a bargaining chip. One way or another, all indications are that the cost of running an F1 team will be drastically reduced in the near future, starting with next season. Lower costs mean easier access, and teams have been lining up by the dozen to take part in the new, more accessibly Formula One. Follow the jump to read all about 'em.
[Source: Autosport | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]
- First up is the team tentatively known as USF1. Though the name is expected to change (copyright issues), the idea is running full steam ahead: an American team, staffed by American personnel, with American drivers driving American machinery. Having lodged its entry before the floodgates opened, USF1 stands the strongest chance of appearing on the grid next year.
- The next most likely candidate is David Richards. We refer to the once-and-future-team-principal instead of the team he'd be heading because Richards sits at the head of both Prodrive and Aston Martin, and both outfits, as we've reported previously, are expected to factor in. Richards has a wealth of experience in running racing teams, having steered Subaru's rally effort and Aston Martin's Le Mans program, to name just two, and even ran the BAR F1 team until handing the reins over to Honda. The team is expected to run under the Prodrive name with Mercedes engines for the first couple of seasons until Aston Martin's name is brought in to bare.
- The latest outfit to throw its name into the ring is N.Technology, a team which dominated the European Touring Car Series with Alfa Romeo for three years running before moving up to the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), where it placed third three seasons in a row. N.Technology's parent company MSC Organization Ltd is also the organizing body behind the International Formula Master championship, an open-wheel F1 feeder series that supports WTCC events.
- A name that is no stranger to the world of F1, meanwhile, is Lola, a team which participated in the sport under various banners during the 1960s, only to drop out ahead of an aborted attempt to re-enter in 1997. The British manufacturer announced back in April that it was beginning work on its own F1 chassis. While Lola could go it alone in the new F1, we wouldn't be surprised to see it team up with one of the other entries, building the car for a partner team to race.
- Another throw-back name from F1 history re-appearing under the new conditions is March, the team co-founded by FIA president Max Mosley. March first appeared in F1 in 1970, when it raced under its own name and also supplied customer chassis to other teams. On its race debut, Jackie Stewart took pole in a March 701 under the Tyrrell banner. After starting nearly 200 grands prix and winning three, March dropped out of the sport in 1992. Sources suggest that the currently dormant race team, now owned by British soccer team owner Andew Fitton, could partner with Cosworth in its return to the field.
- Another strong entry comes from the combination of Formula 3 team Litespeed GP and Mike Gascoyne's MGI Ltd. Gascoyne has a wealth of experience running F1 teams, having worked for McLaren, Toyota, Sauber, Tyrrell, Spyker and Force India, and directed the Jordan and Renault teams.
- Other teams which have registered their bids to join the F1 grid for 2010 include Epsilon Euskadi, a Spanish racing team which currently campaigns in the World Series by Renault and Le Mans; former GP2 team Campos Racing which currently competes in the Spanish Formula 3 championship and reportedly has backing from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim; current GP2 competitor iSport; and former F1 driver Alex Wurz's Team Superfund; as well as former Bennetton designer and Simtek F1 boss Nick Wirth; motorsport engineering consultancy Ray Mallock Limited; and automotive components supplier Formtech, which acquired the assets of the former Super Aguri team and announced a deal to run under the stoic Brabham name. Previous rumors suggested that either Andretti Green or Penske could try their hand at F1 as well, however no confirmation has followed.
All in all that makes 13 teams confirmed to have formalized their bids to enter the Formula One championship for next season. While F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has voiced his support for an expanded grid, surely not all of this baker's dozen can be accepted in addition to the ten teams currently in the series. The FIA is scheduled to publicize the final entry list on June 12, so stay tuned for the announcement.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Javanese 11:15AM (6/06/2009)
Ferrari can leave for all I care... bring on the new teams, I'm sure it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel for brawngp and red bull next year.
Something tells me that McLaren is doing a honda, abandoning this year car in favor of next year, before the cost capping rules are enforced. That way I think they're getting a jumpstart.
Also, will we see the return of 3-year car (ala lotus, brabham and such) like the old days in F1?
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dagomonster44 12:27PM (6/06/2009)
HAHA You're funny do you really think this is a Ferrari vs the FIA? This is a FOTA vs the FIA. If Ferrari leaves so does Red Bull, Renault, McLaren.
Even 2 time World Champion Fernando Alonso has stated his displeasure for Max Mosley and the future of F1.
"Hopefully (a breakaway series) will happen. It would be a dream if there was a Spanish team, but not if at the same time Formula One becomes a sort of 'big GP2'.
"With this revolution it seems like almost anyone can have a Formula One team," the Renault star told Spanish media ahead of this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix. "I think that is a big mistake for the sport.
Generally people like you that have little knowledge about the F1 circuit blame Ferrari for everything. F1 needs Ferrari more than the need a Lola or Lotus
hashiryu 1:01PM (6/06/2009)
Let me make an analogy for you Java. Would you watch the UEFA championship if ManU, Chealsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Arsenal all walked?
It's like playing football against an Allstar team but with their hands or a foot tied behind their back.
F1 has always been about succession. New teams coming in to try and beat old and established teams. Rising to the top and then the cycle repeats. It should not be dumbed down for 2nd class racers, and I like the Attitude of Epsilon and USGP who are in it regardless, budget cap or no. I hope they get accepted.
Half of those guys who put in an entry don't have facilites or money... it's a joke, and F1 without Ferrari will die a swift but painful death, especially if the other big dogs walk too. This coming from a non-Ferrari fan.
Jimmy 11:37PM (6/06/2009)
"Ferrari can leave for all I care... bring on the new teams, I'm sure it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel for brawngp and red bull next year."
Sure.. except that BrawnGP and Red Bull are siding with FOTA, not the FIA. So next year Farce1 will be Williams + Force India + a bunch of unproven teams.
Tony Montana 11:25AM (6/06/2009)
It's about quality not quantity.
If these teams come to the field Brawn GP will make it a painfully boring season with the domination their practising this year.
When the F1 season is all but decided a few months before the end of the season you know its a horrid season for the sport.
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Adam 11:49AM (6/06/2009)
Pretty sure USF1 already changed to USGPE (US Grand Prix Engineering).
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AZZO45b 4:38PM (6/06/2009)
Your are correct... its USGPE...
...Bernie barred them from using "F1" in their team name.
skylin3gtr013 11:53PM (6/06/2009)
yeah....but couldn't they have just added "team" to it to make it work. Like USF1 team? USGPE just doesn't sound as good imho.
adam 11:56PM (6/06/2009)
No, they had to drop USF1 because it includes "F1" - anything with F1 in it wouldn't fly. I agree USGPE doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Bob Varsha on Speed is still calling them USF1, it's a name that might stick, at least for a while, no matter what the car has written on it.
slicecom 1:28PM (6/07/2009)
Except for Williams of course, who are allowed to use F1 in their team name.
aj121489 11:59AM (6/06/2009)
Grand Primer? Am I missing the joke?
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Harley Cook 12:09PM (6/06/2009)
Who is the idiot trying to make F1 a second class race series?
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dagomonster44 12:28PM (6/06/2009)
his name is max Mosley and he needs to be fired
Pi 12:22PM (6/06/2009)
that would be the end of formula one as the most advanced motorsport in the world. more like a IRL/GP2 kind of championship with lots of teams, 2 or 3 different engines, small budgets and boring modern tracks.
I am curious to see what USF1 will do as F1 is very different and at a far higher level than any american championship.
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fajerfoks 1:09PM (6/06/2009)
"more accessibly Formula One"?!
are you kidding me? formula 1 is not SUPPOSED to be accessible. it's meant to be the leading competition in motorsport, with cutting-edge technology, highest speeds, best drivers, most capable teams!
max mosley should keep his pants up and mouth shut.
why wouldn't you make formula 2 more interesting by making it more like formula 1, but a low-cost version?
don't f*** this one up, please!
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James Dehnert Sr 1:35PM (6/06/2009)
I'm keen to see what FOTA could do if they walked away. I mean, what's keeping them from starting their own series? They can sanction under some other flag than FIA (unless this is different than in the US) . They could contract with someone else for the lucrative TV rights and make sure that the lions share is going back into their new series as opposed to padding BE's already huge bank account. They can establish their own methods of cost cutting while still making sure that this New F1 is about what the old F1 was about. That being bringing the best technology to race within the formula.
Max is trying to create a spec series out of F1. Just look at some of the proposals that he has proposed over the last 2 years. My favorite was a spec engine. Can you imagine a Ferrari with a Cosworth engine! Or a Renault, or Toyota, or BMW. That went over like a lead balloon.
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bmwMontreal 1:36PM (6/06/2009)
Current F1 rules stipulate an engine supplier can only provide engines to 2 teams. An exception to this was made for BrawnGP to allow them to remain in the F1 grid this year, however the rule has not been taken off the books completely. That means, should Prodive/Aston Martin/Dave Richards join the grid with Mercedes engines, at least two teams will have to give up their Merc engines. Hopefully that means an end to the near constant caboose of Force India, and the team so accomplished at cheating to make Italian Sirie A, Bill Belichick, and Chinese Olympic Gymnasts together look like Abe Lincoln [McLaren].
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hashiryu 3:23PM (6/06/2009)
How easy everyone forgets about the "discrepancies" of other teams... all of a sudden you would think everyone else in F1 is a saint.
Hakim 2:24PM (6/06/2009)
Looks like Max has been going the Gary Bettman School For Running (Runing) Sports Leagues.
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Hakim 2:27PM (6/06/2009)
Looks like Max has been going to the Gary Bettman School For Running (Ruining) Sports Leagues.