VAR Owners Eye F1 Entry, But Face Long Wait

The owners of junior formula powerhouse Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) are actively preparing to submit an entry for a new, twelfth team on the Formula 1 grid, led by new Managing Partner Otmar Szafnauer. However, with the FIA confirming no formal process is currently open, their ambitious plan faces a potentially lengthy waiting game, complicated by the precedent of Andretti-Cadillac's stalled application.

Why it matters:

The potential entry of a team with deep roots in the feeder series like VAR represents a different model for F1 expansion, driven by racing pedigree rather than solely a major automotive brand. A successful application could test the commercial and sporting appetite for expanding beyond ten teams and introduce a new player with significant operational experience from the junior categories.

The Details:

• The effort is spearheaded by Otmar Szafnauer, the former Alpine and Aston Martin F1 team principal who recently joined VAR as its Managing Partner.
• He is partnering with Mexican businessman Rafael Villagómez Sr., who holds a majority stake in the Dutch racing team, to lead the F1 bid.
• Their strategy is to have all preparations complete so they can apply immediately once—or if—the FIA opens a new formal Expression of Interest process for an 11th or 12th team slot.
• Current Stalemate: The FIA stated there is no active process for a new team, indicating no imminent opportunity. Industry insiders suggest the governing body and F1 commercial rights holder are in no rush to launch a new round, especially after the complex and protracted discussions surrounding the Andretti Global and Cadillac bid.
• The Cadillac Precedent: The significant hurdles faced by the Andretti-Cadillac project, which received FIA approval but was rejected by Formula One Management on commercial grounds, have likely cooled the environment for new entries. This precedent suggests any new applicant would face a high bar for proving it would add value to the championship.

What's next:

Patience will be the key virtue for VAR's ownership group. They acknowledge the bid could take "many more years" to materialize, if at all.

• The team will likely continue to strengthen its operations and reputation in F2 and F3 while monitoring the political landscape within F1 regarding grid expansion.
• The ultimate decision rests on whether F1's stakeholders believe the championship's growth and stability is better served by the current ten teams or by carefully expanding the grid with a new entity that meets stringent financial and competitive criteria.