American manager Otmar Szafnauer, former F1 team principal, has invested in an active formation in F2 and F3 with the aim of relaunching a project for a twelfth team when the opportunity arises.
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The owners of Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) wish to enter Formula 1 with their own team.
However, the chances of this materializing in the short term are low as the integration of the eleventh team, Cadillac F1, has only just begun and has posed many political or logistical problems.
A legitimate project
Otmar Szafnauer, recently appointed Managing Partner of VAR, revealed in an interview that he supports this project to create a twelfth team in F1. Besides himself, there is Rafael Villagómez Sr, the team’s main shareholder, and father of one of the team’s F2 drivers, Rafael Villagómez Jr.
Their strategy is clear: to be ready to immediately submit an application as soon as an official opportunity arises. But this will require patience. Asked about the possible arrival of a new team, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile stated: « At the present time, no expression of interest process is formally open between the FIA and F1 for a new team. »
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After twenty years in F1, Szafnauer has considerable experience gained at BAR, then Honda, Force India, Racing Point, Aston Martin and finally Alpine, including ten consecutive seasons in a leadership position. He therefore knows the inner workings and politics of the sport very well to practice effective lobbying in order to launch a new team in the Grands Prix.
No (yet?) call for tenders
At this stage, no date is known for the opening of such a process. The FIA and Formula 1 are expected to take time to reflect before relaunching a call for applications. The difficulties encountered in bringing Cadillac F1 Team onto the grid encourage caution, and it is not expected that a new process will be launched in the near future.
Despite everything, the leaders of VAR remain determined. They know that it could take several years, but the goal of obtaining a twelfth place on the Formula 1 grid remains very real. Szafnauer’s credibility and his powerful network should help move the project forward, but without getting ahead of themselves, obviously.
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