The former team boss at Aston Martin and Alpine now reveals that a new American Formula 1 team could be on the way.
Nothing is certain. But the former team boss at Aston Martin and Alpine, Otmar Szafnauer, now reveals that another American team could be entering Formula 1.
There are only 10 Formula 1 teams at present. But the rules actually allow as many as 12 teams. For the same reason, a number of investors are currently evaluating the possibility of applying for a place in motorsport's most prestigious class.
Szafnauer touches on this in the latest edition of the James Allen on F1 podcast. That's what Autosport writes.
– I have worked with some organizations in North America that have the funds to build an 11th Formula 1 team. It's not Andretti.
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– Right now we are just putting some of the building blocks in place to make sure we have everything required to be successful. Both when it comes to gathering a team, and also with regard to the access itself (to Formula 1, ed.)
All in all, the subject of 'an 11th Formula 1 team' has been much debated for a long time. Andretti Motorsport, as Otmar Szafnauer mentions, had the team's application for a place in the field rejected earlier this year.
Even though the Andretti people actually have the backing of the car group General Motors, which will build the team's engines and thus form a factory team. In fact, GM will not enter Formula 1 without Andretti at all.
Whether Otmar Szafnauer's 11th Formula 1 team is more than talk is difficult to predict. But one chorister who is at least without a seat from the 2025 season is Danish Kevin Magnussen.
The Dane himself also says that there are still opportunities in Formula 1. Whether he knows about Otmar Szafnauer's plans is another question. In that case, K-Mag will probably have to find something else to do in the time until 2028, when it is expected that an 11th team can get a place in the field at the earliest.
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