The FIA ​​launches a call for tenders for a 12th team

It is by 2015 or 2016 that the FIA ​​wants a new team to complete the starting grid for the Grand Prix of Formula 1 to bring the total number of single-seaters present to 24. “The FIA ​​has decided to launch a new call for tenders in order to identify a candidate team to participate at a competitive level in the FIA ​​Formula 1 world championship from 2015 or 2016 and until 2020 inclusive”

The decision of the governing bodies will be made on several points, including “the technical capabilities and resources of the team, the ability of the team to find and maintain sufficient funds to enable participation in the championship at a competitive level, the experience of the team and human resources, the ?assessment by the FIA ​​of the value that the candidate will be able to bring to the championship as a whole ».

In short, F1 wants to avoid repeating the semi-fiasco of the last call for tenders carried out in 2010. The two teams still present, Caterham (formerly Team Lotus) and Marussia, (formerly Virgin), have failed to take off at the results level. HRT was only able to run for three seasons before throwing in the towel, due to lack of financial resources and lack of convincing results. USF1 withdrew before even taking part in any testing session. The FIA ​​therefore reserves the right to “do not select a team if the applicants are not considered relevant”

This decision comes even as cost reductions and a future budget cap were adopted at the last meeting between the Strategic Council and the F1 Commission.