Plans for an 11th F1 team currently under study
Former Alpine technical director Otmar Szafnauer has revealed that discussions have begun with a number of American investors. The idea is to integrate an eleventh Formula 1 team on the grid, after the failure of Andretti.
After the failure of Andretti, could Formula 1 see the emergence of a new credible candidate? During a podcast hosted by James Allen, a British television commentator and journalist, Otmar Szafnauer revealed that he is in discussions with some American investors to set up an eleventh Formula 1 team. This project would build on the lessons learned from the Andretti experience, while avoiding the same mistakes.
A risky project following Andretti’s setback.
A similar project had been considered by Michael Andretti, son of 1978 world champion Mario Andretti. In 2021, he had decided to buy Sauber Motorsports to turn it into Andretti, with the ambition of joining the Formula 1 paddock in 2024. However, things did not go as planned for the American team.
Despite the support of the FIA, Liberty Media, a shareholder of Formula 1, and the ten teams on the grid strongly rejected this proposal, mainly for financial reasons. The arrival of an eleventh team would have led to a new distribution of the profits generated by Formula 1, thus reducing the revenues of each team. Initially planned for 2024, the arrival of the Andretti team in 2026 was rejected by the FIA last January, opening however a door for 2028, on condition of buying an existing constructor, as explained by Christian Horner, director of Red Bull.
« I think that Formula 1 said that if it came with its own engine in 2028, it would review the decision. But apart from that, I think that if Andretti wanted to come, it would be better to do it like Audi which bought Sauber. I believe that to protect the current franchise and stability we have in the sport, the best way to achieve their goal is to take over one of the existing teams. »
A too long wait has probably rushed some discussions, making it currently impossible for a new team to enter Formula 1. Nevertheless, Otmar Szafnauer, former director of Racing Point, remains optimistic. He aims to return to the paddocks after his experiences at BAR, Honda, and Alpine, and could achieve this within an eleventh team.
« I am a competitor and what I love more than anything is competition. So, going back to a role where I can’t influence the team’s performance, I don’t think that would interest me. If it was a role where I could help develop, build, attract the right people to improve a team’s competitiveness, that would interest me.
I have worked with some organizations in North America that have the funds needed to start an eleventh team. It is not Andretti. We are now putting in place some of these basic elements to ensure that we have everything necessary to succeed in both starting a team and obtaining an entry. So, you know, it’s interesting too.
With the growing interest in Formula 1 in the United States, the project could take on a greater scope. Andretti’s failure allowed Szafnauer to analyze in depth the recommendations of the sport’s governing bodies and to respond to them better. New discussions should take place in the coming days regarding this matter, offering an opportunity for Formula 1 to welcome a new team, which has not had 22 full-time drivers on the starting grid since 2016.
