Say hello to Formula One's newcomers
It's on again, off again in the face-paced world of Formula One politics. First the biggest teams in F1 were slated to split off and form their own series. Then everything seemed reconciled, until Max Mosley got all torqued off again and threatened to scuttle the whole deal. It's anyone's guess at this point – we think the one series will be on track for next season – but in the meantime, the FIA issued the official list of entries for 2010.
Alongside the ten current teams (Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams, Force India and Brawn) returning for next season, the FIA chose three out of the dozen prospective teams that lodged applications to join the series. So if all goes according to plan, Campos Meta, Manor Grand Prix and Team US F1 will be joining the grid next season. Follow the jump to read more about 'em, the engine suppliers that will be providing their motivation and some of the big-name sponsors already being associated with the new teams.
[Image: GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty]
The impetus for all the new entries being lodged for next season was the proposed budget cap put forward by embattled FIA president, Max Mosley. Now that those drastic cuts have been taken off the table, many of the smaller outfits wouldn't be able to field the kinds of budgets required to operate a modern F1 team any more than they could in previous years. The three that remain are those that could afford the full budget without Mosley's cuts.
- Team US F1 got on board long before Mosley began slashing budgets and scaring off the established teams. Venerated motorsports journalist Peter Windsor has reportedly begun scaling back his interviews around the paddock to refocus his efforts on leading the new team, which is projected to bring Cosworth back into the sport as its independent engine supplier. In an intriguing piece of speculation, YouTube has been linked to the team as a potential big sponsor after co-founder Chad Hurley was seen at Silverstone for last weekend's British Grand Prix.
- Campos Grand Prix is a joint effort being fielded by Spanish outfits team Campos Racing and sports agency Meta Image. Campos won the teams championship in the second-tier GP2 series last year, and is expected to hit the F1 grid next season with a Dallara chassis and Cosworth engines. No confirmation so far on earlier reports linking Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim to the team.
- Manor Grand Prix, the third new entry on the grid, is another joint effort, bringing Formula 3 team Manor Motorsport together with former Simtek and Benetton director Nick Wirth. Like the American outfit and Campos, Manor is also expected to use the new low-cost engine package being offered by onetime F1 mainstay supplier Cosworth. With the rising value of sponsoring this year's presumptive champions, Richard Branson's Virgin group is tipped to jump from Brawn to the upstart Manor team in the hopes of getting more value.
With USF1, Campos and Manor joining the existing field, that leaves Lola, Prodrive/Aston Martin, N.Technology/MSC, March, Litespeed/Lotus, Epsilon Euskadi, iSport, Team Superfund, Formtech, and Ray Mallock all outside the action with any other teams that may have chosen not to publicize their entries pending the FIA's approval. The returning teams will all be expected to lend a hand getting their new competitors up to speed for next season, after which the FIA is expected to begin a staggered cost-cutting program to get budgets down to what they were in the 1990's.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kiiks 9:55AM (6/28/2009)
So Nick Wirth jumps back to F1... what does this mean for Acura's LMP development program?
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DiRF 10:01AM (6/28/2009)
Max Mosely threatening to stay should be enough for FOTA to finally realize that they've had enough of the FIA's bullcrap, no matter what FIA does now.
It's like a woman in an abusive relationship... just dump the ****er already.
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Kiiks 10:13AM (6/28/2009)
He hits me because he loves me!
mole 11:09AM (6/28/2009)
She whines cos she needs me?
Mike 12:54PM (6/28/2009)
Should a major manufacturer not come in to battle Acura in the ALMS, Acura is gone and all 3 teams will move to IRL.
The ALMS as we know it could end at this season's end, so GO to an ALMS race this year if you can !
4DSC_Man 10:37AM (6/28/2009)
Good to see Cosworth getting back into it, will USF1 be the only United States team in F1 next year?
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ufgrat 4:37PM (6/28/2009)
So far. There was a comment by Mosely, I think, that there was a second group showing interest in a team, but they'll only get a chance in 2010 if FOTA splits and the FIA needs to fill the backfield.
Given the way the "peace" went down initially, I suspect that all of Mosely's ranting is just that-- ranting. Bernie isn't going to risk his cash flow because Mosely's having a temper tantrum.
skitch 10:37AM (6/28/2009)
good luck to USF1/GP!...
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Ian 10:52AM (6/28/2009)
When will Peter Windsor take American citizenship then?
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Kitko 1:30AM (6/29/2009)
About the same time when Indy stops pretending to be American.... Japanese engines, Italian/British chassis, driver line-up is pretty international...
Why should the citizenship of Mr. Windsor ever matter?
Ian 10:09AM (6/29/2009)
Because they are touting this as heavilly a US team in F1, but at least 50% of the people behind it is as Brit as they come.
ale 11:59AM (6/29/2009)
trust me im sure hes not going to be changing citizenship... besides who cares, if the drivers represent America, what difference does it make...
Ian 2:58PM (6/29/2009)
Yeah like the RedBull find an American F1 driver program which petered out... So for how long will USF1 have 2 American drivers, IF in fact they EVER have more than one American. Right now the ONLY youg American driver how shows continued improvement is Graham Rahal, everyone is way behind him.
EEL 2:27PM (6/28/2009)
"Richard Branson's Virgin group is tipped to jump from Brawn to the upstart Manor team in the hopes of getting more value".
Wait...WHAT?! WHY?!
Since I'm no business man, especially of the caliber of Sir Richard Branson, could someone explain this to me (excluding the obvious -- money)? Come on, the exposure that he gets with BraunGP right now has got to be worth way more now than what he could possibly save by moving to ManorGP.
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PuBeLeSs 3:14PM (6/28/2009)
well obviously (well i take it that way) brawn is wanting to much for a main sponser. and sir Richards can probably stick a deal much cheaper and hold them to contract. so when the team does get big, he will still be main sponsor for what they would call "cheap". at least that's what i am thinking.
Kiiks 3:40PM (6/28/2009)
And Brawn can likely do better. Ross Brawn wins championships and constructors' titles. His mastermind in F1 can't be denied as every team he's worked for has been immensely successful. Mercedes might be wise to drop McLaren as their factory outfit and have Brawn GP bear the tri-star banner.
Jsams4131 4:00PM (6/28/2009)
to me its a Win-Win for both. Brawn will definately get a sponsor willing to bay bigger bucks. and Branson will get his brand slapped on another car for cheap.
Bobs 4:12PM (6/28/2009)
Common Aston Martin!
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DiRF 5:46PM (6/28/2009)
What's so "common" about Aston Martin?
Bobs 12:45AM (6/29/2009)
wow horrible spelling by me lol
what I meant to say was
COME ON ASTON MARTIN!