Former Aston Martin and Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has revealed a thriller automotive producer desires to hitch F1 as a twelfth crew.
F1 welcomes Cadillac as an eleventh crew from 2026.
For the primary time in a decade, 22 vehicles might be on the grid for the season-opening race subsequent 12 months.
Initially, the groups had been firmly towards an eleventh crew resulting from considerations about dilating the prize pool.
Nevertheless, after months of negotiations, F1 authorized Cadillac’s entry to hitch the grid in 2026.
There may be now discuss of a twelfth crew, with Szafnauer enjoying a key position within the challenge.
F1 final had 12 groups in 2012, earlier than HRT’s exit on the finish of the 12 months.
In an interview with The Race, Szafnauer defined that this crew has the funds to hitch the grid.
“The funds are in place,” Szafnauer mentioned. “What I can inform you is that the financiers are critical individuals they usually have the monetary wherewithal to have the ability to fund a Formulation 1 crew.
“The automotive producer that additionally desires to hitch Formulation 1’s in place. It’s only a matter of the timing being proper to really get the chance to begin the twelfth crew. And maybe within the close to future, there could be some on the market.”
Szafnauer admitted that they’d be ready to take over an current crew.
In recent times, there was hypothesis surrounding Alpine’s long run future within the sports activities, notably because the closure of their works engine challenge.
“It’s tough when individuals aren’t promoting,” Szafnauer added. “And I perceive why – there’s a brand new Concorde coming, that’s all been agreed.
“And thereafter, there are 9 homeowners they usually all have completely different outlooks on life, on Formulation 1, on how lengthy they wish to be in, on the explanations they’re in.
“So hopefully, and within the not too distant future, a few of them will say, ‘You recognize what? I’ve had my time in Formulation 1, maybe it’s a very good time to promote’.”
Szafnauer assured of success
Szafnauer believes becoming a member of the grid in 2028 or 2029 could be sensible if F1 invitations them to submit an Expression of Curiosity.
The crew must show to F1 that they’ve the monetary and technical functionality to compete in F1.
Szafnauer is assured the crew may have the instruments required to compete in F1 as soon as given the inexperienced gentle.
“I feel with the sources I’ve put collectively, inside a short while, I could possibly be aggressive,” Szafnauer added. “I might rent the correct people. I feel I can get them to come back. The automotive producer that may produce a powertrain might be very competent.
“And the monetary backing that I’ve been in a position to put collectively signifies that we’d have a brand new windtunnel, new R&D services, new manufacturing facility – a bit bit like what Lawrence Stroll did.
“That most likely takes two to a few years from a standstill – however in these two-to-three years, when you put the correct individuals collectively, you too can develop the simulation instruments you could be aggressive, then inside three-to-four years be aggressive.
“Once I was at British American Racing, in 12 months two we completed tied fourth in factors on this planet championship, and we began from nothing – three workers. I used to be operations director then, so I bear in mind what it took to try this.
“I don’t know when or if the method for a twelfth crew will open up, but when it does, I wish to be prepared. And if it opens up comparatively quickly, then ’28, ’29 could be a good timeline to get racing.”
