The announcement of the partnership between Andretti Motors and the US manufacturer Cadillac seemed for many to be a sort of All-in. An almost surprising move to overcome the last resistance that separated the Andretti name from a great return to the top motorsport series.
On this matter, as recently reported by RaceFans, a direct spokeswoman for Formula 1 was interviewed, recalling, as if it were needed, that “the interest in the series is really high”. In fact, the Andretti-Cadillac partnership will have to deal with other, more or less established realities, for what appears to be a race for just one single slot available on the grid in 2026.
Potential contenders for a seat in Formula 1
In fact, Benjamin Durand, former managing director of the SMP Racing endurance team, is also looking towards Formula 1. Benjamin Durand, in collaboration with Michael Orts, founded the Panthera Asia F1 Team project in 2019 and now seems interested in taking the plunge. Over time, the team has equipped itself with some infrastructure near Silverstone, hiring ex Catheram man Tim Milne hoping to be able to take advantage of the 2021 regulation changes to get a slot on the grid.
The arrival of the pandemic and the consequent postponement of the new rules to 2022 has determined Formula 1 not to allow the entry of new teams, postponing Benjamin Durand’s dream.
In addition to Panthera Asia, 2019 was the year of the Monaco F1 Racing Team. Born from the idea of Salvatore Gandolfo, CEO of Monaco Increase Management, the team would represent a unique side in the motorsport series. Indeed, it would be the first representing the Monegasque flag. In view of 2026, some first steps have been taken, such as the interest in acquiring the infrastructure of the Campos junior team. Furthermore, it is rumored that the team has already approached Pascal Wehrlein and Alex Palou for the role of main drivers.
Lastly, Canadian billionaire Calvin Lo, who has always been passionate about motorsports, has publicly revealed his desire to found a Formula 1 team.
In any case, potential participants are now awaiting further details. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has called a meeting to clarify the entry procedure for next week. “The FIA is aware of some teams expressing their interest. We will provide the first updates shortly. Any selection will be particularly rigorous and will take several months.”
In any case, it is difficult to expect a surprise debut before 2026. The timing indicated by the FIA, as well as the next big regulation change, leads us to believe that the grid will not undergo any changes in the next three years.
Leave a Reply