A new Chinese team on its way to F1?
A new Chinese team could well be arriving in Formula 1 very soon. This is the persistent rumour that has been stirring the paddock in recent days, based on concrete evidence and intriguing statements from the FIA.
China F1 Racing: this is the new name registered in the UK business register by the company Bronze Fortune Limited, led by a French lawyer named Michael Orts.
It took no less for the small world of Formula 1 to be abuzz with this announcement, seeing in this change the future creation of a new team supported by shareholders from China.
It must be said that the FIA did not really deny this rumor by stating its intention to reach the number of twelve teams in the near future: « For the moment, we have ten teams, and the idea is to go up to 12. So we have an opportunity, and if we have one or two strong entrants, it would be possible. » explained Jean Todt, President of the Federation, at the conclusion of the Sports Conference organized in Geneva at the beginning of the week.
However, in order to register new teams in Formula 1, a tender must be opened by the FIA. An eventuality that seems most likely according to the Frenchman: « When we feel it’s the right time, we will issue a tender. We first need to verify the request. It will involve some sort of audit to see who the potential buyers are. If it’s a big manufacturer, it’s easy; if it’s a private entity, we have to be more cautious. Then, once we are sure there is real interest, and once we are sure that the people have the capabilities, as was the case with Haas, then we issue a tender. »
Without dismissing the idea, Jean Todt still specifies that the FIA will take the necessary time to study any proposal: « It would be foolish to think that a new team would be ready in eight months, or even less… »
There is therefore little chance of seeing a new team arrive by 2018. However, the door remains open to increasing the grid size in the medium term.
