Former Alpine chief aims to establish a 12th F1 team.

Former Alpine chief aims to establish a 12th F1 team.

      "I aim to be prepared to become the successful candidate."

      Former Alpine and Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer is focusing on his most ambitious Formula 1 endeavor to date. With Cadillac set to enter as F1's new eleventh team next year, Szafnauer attended an event in Miami last week where he expressed his desire to expand the grid to its maximum of 12 teams. "Before my arrival in Formula 1 with BAR, there were even more teams, especially during the pre-qualifying era," he stated at the Fuelling the City’s Global Spotlight event. "If a twelfth team comes into existence, I want to be prepared to be the successful candidate," the 60-year-old added. "There is definitely enough space for 12 teams, and I believe having 24 cars is preferable to 22. There is ample physical space, and if all 12 teams are competitive, it’s significantly better with 24 drivers." Although Liberty Media and the current ten teams have traditionally resisted this idea, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem supports the initiative for an 11th team and has signaled a possibility for a twelfth. "I envision that when the tender for this 12th team is announced, there will be several submissions," Szafnauer remarked. "Therefore, I want to ensure that my application stands out as the best among them."

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Former Alpine chief aims to establish a 12th F1 team.

Formula 1 | Otmar Szafnauer, the former team principal of Alpine and Aston Martin, is focusing on his most ambitious project in Formula 1 to date. With Cadillac poised to (…)