Prospective new teams for the FIA F1 World Championship.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Rusty Nail

Rodin cars to put in a bid for F1 grid.

I don't think this is a publicity stunt, and the money shouldn't be a problem, it sounds like he is serious. NZ does have the ability to produce very high tech innovative and winning manufacturing - think Team NZ Americas Cup, Rocket Lab etc.

Interesting choice of drivers, both have yet to set the world alight in the upper feeder formulae.

Louis Sharp has time and may well prove himself but I'm not sure about Jamie Chadwick. She could be a good PR move though.

https://www.thepress.co.nz/a/nz-news...ate-david-dick

I'm not sure it comes across as particularly realistic or credible.

Imagine how deep you'd need your pockets to be to make your own F1 engines from scratch - not to mention the eyewatering costs of setting up a facility in NZ and then recruiting experienced people to work down there.

[steve_r]

I have never read an interview with a prospective new F1 team, where the team owner admits that it is not going to happen in the very same interview where they launch the idea.

Making your own engine seems to be needlessly making your life more complicated too.

The more teams the better as far as I am concerned, but it's an odd interview, and I cant help but put this one down as a non-starter on the basis of the initial articles.

[S griffin]

Nice to see another team getting interested, although it's early days and I will believe it more when they get more of a planned program in place, like Andretti did. Naming a couple of drivers isn't enough. Sharp and Chadwick aren't bad drivers, but aren't exactly drivers you feel need to be in F1.

[Greem]

Announcing a new entry is an incredibly cheap way of getting new eyeballs on their already very expensive and exclusive products.

The tie up with Carlin probably isn't so cheap, but it's got the Rodin brand into the homes of people who were previously otherwise unaware of them.

Smart move.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Greem

The tie up with Carlin probably isn't so cheap, but it's got the Rodin brand into the homes of people who were previously otherwise unaware of them.

I think he just bought it from Graeme Chilton, who owned it since the 'previous' Carlin went bust in 2010 or so. I doubt it was for a fortune.

[Greem]

I thought the Chilton involvement was with Manor rather than Carlin, but there we go.

I also thought Trevor was still involved too, but there we go again!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Greem

I thought the Chilton involvement was with Manor rather than Carlin, but there we go.

I also thought Trevor was still involved too, but there we go again!

https://www.wallace.co.uk/articles/wallace-advises-grahame-chilton-on-the-sale-of-carlin-to-rodin-cars-

[Greem]

Crikey. I take my eye off the ball for a few minutes (years) and things move under me!

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Greem

I also thought Trevor was still involved too, but there we go again!

Yes he's still involved. I saw him at Brands Hatch in the F4 paddock at the end of last year.

Anyway fair play to Rodin if they are getting help from a top team like Carlin. Would probably help both of them. Carlin getting extra publicity from being involved with a potential F1 team and Rodin getting an experienced hand to help show them the way

[v8supes]

So we cant have new teams but we can have Brad Pitt filming a film...

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by v8supes

So we cant have new teams but we can have Brad Pitt filming a film...

I am not sure that there is any direct connection between the two things.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Anyway fair play to Rodin if they are getting help from a top team like Carlin. Would probably help both of them. Carlin getting extra publicity from being involved with a potential F1 team and Rodin getting an experienced hand to help show them the way

Rodin aren't "getting help" from Carlin - they bought the company. Trev has always been there and is now back as a director, but Rodin are the controlling shareholder.

[Mike Harte]

It appears that 3 entities have "lodged" applications with the FIA to join F1 in 2026. They are Andretti, Craig Pollock and now Hitech which is a Silverstone based team that has entered cars in F, F3 and F4.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...stor/10487891/

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

It appears that 3 entities have "lodged" applications with the FIA to join F1 in 2026. They are Andretti, Craig Pollock and now Hitech which is a Silverstone based team that has entered cars in F, F3 and F4.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...stor/10487891/

im assuming as there is no mention of it, this Hitech group doesnt have a problem with the 200m new entrant fee?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

im assuming as there is no mention of it, this Hitech group doesnt have a problem with the 200m new entrant fee?

One assumes that their Kazakh business investor, having purchased 25%, gives them the financial clout to go ahead. It seems that he/they have fairly deep pockets, and what better way to flaunt that than being on the grid of F1.

[E.B]

One has to wonder what Kim the Kazakh can add to F1 that names like Andretti and Cadillac / GM can't.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by E.B

One has to wonder what Kim the Kazakh can add to F1 that names like Andretti and Cadillac / GM can't.

Actual money not 37 partners financing it?

[P38 in workshop]

Originally Posted by E.B

One has to wonder what Kim the Kazakh can add to F1 that names like Andretti and Cadillac / GM can't.

A little more than Craig Pollock,I suspect.I would hope that Andretti and Hitech get the nod to move to the next step of the process.Where they will meet ferocious opposition from those who see a threat to a steady income stream simply because of being present.It is meant to be a championship and complacency can get a foothold if there are no disruptive forces at work.


I saw that Stefano Domenicali has been pushing the idea that 24 races is the preferred number,so how about 24 cars on the grid too?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by P38 in workshop

A little more than Craig Pollock,I suspect.I would hope that Andretti and Hitech get the nod to move to the next step of the process.Where they will meet ferocious opposition from those who see a threat to a steady income stream simply because of being present.It is meant to be a championship and complacency can get a foothold if there are no disruptive forces at work.


I saw that Stefano Domenicali has been pushing the idea that 24 races is the preferred number,so how about 24 cars on the grid too?

I’m sure the existing teams will have taken more of Andretti’s proposed financing by then.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

They are Andretti, Craig Pollock and now Hitech which is a Silverstone based team that has entered cars in F, F3 and F4.

I can't imagine Formula One Management would move heaven and earth for any of these.

Andretti might be OK but the Pollock and Hitech teams sound like guaranteed backmarkers and FOM have made clear they aren't keen on adding teams like Manor or Hispania which are 3-4 seconds per lap off the pace.

Granted the Jordan team (as a past F3000 graduate) did well while they had cigarette sponsorship, but once that was gone they became backmarkers and almost folded, sadly.

Private teams that rely on commercial sponsorship, i.e., the traditional garagistes (like Williams or McLaren) seem more at financial risk than either billionaire-backed teams (like Red Bull) and/or manufacturer-backed teams -- McLaren got into quite some financial trouble once they parted with manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, for example, they had to sell their own factory in 2020 IIRC. [Of course technically McLaren is a manufacturer team, but the McLaren car company is hardly profitable enough to tip money into the race team -- quite the opposite.]

What happened to applicants like Porsche and Honda?!

[S griffin]

They should welcome a few teams in. Not sure what's happening with Andretti. We'll see what happens with Pollock and Hitech. For me there was nothing wrong with Manor or HRT, even if they didn't quite make it

For me the likes of Jordan are what added to the sport, they were there for passion, although it got harder as commercialism got in

It's true you need sponsor or a good manufacturer behind. Look at the struggles that Williams and McLaren have gone through and they still have some trouble now. Red Bull have done well to make they didn't throw away too much money, despite overspending a little bit. It's taken years for McLaren to get back up there and now they are in the midfield again. It had shown how far they have gone down. But I'm glad they are still here, but there are still uncertain times ahead

I don't think Porsche care about F1 right now and Honda seem less interested.

[chillibowl]

from a certain point of view, Jordan currently sits just shy of 2nd in the constructors and FI routinely hovered around 5th. small teams, can over time, become solid contenders.

thats the good.

the bad, however, is the fear that the new teams will just be perennial back markers there to supplement the income streams of the big teams through the purchase of engines, parts, technical advice, place to develop drivers and staff (although this one is more of a good imo), carry a tangential badge creating the branding appearance of manu support etc.

but still more customers then constructors really. in this way they exist primarily to squeeze the already existing mid field teams and hence the need for large dilutions/entrance fees.

while i am not necessarily against new teams, i am currently enjoying the overall health of the existing 10 teams and worry that additional (customer) teams will further increase the divide between top and bottom which is something i actually do believe F1 has worked hard these past few years to get away from.

no doubt overly cynical on my part, but i have yet to hear a really solid argument for expansion. right now it seems to me (cynical again) that its just about the money?!?

[Skam85]

New teams even if they are a backmarker to begin with aren't necessarily a bad thing.

Alonso, Webber, Fisichella, Ricciardo, Bianchi etc all shone in terrible backmarker cars at the start of their careers.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Skam85

New teams even if they are a backmarker to begin with aren't necessarily a bad thing.

Alonso, Webber, Fisichella, Ricciardo, Bianchi etc all shone in terrible backmarker cars at the start of their careers.

Yes, that’s very true. However you really need to stand out if you want to progress to a top team eventually. Or already have a connection with a top team…

[bathurst77]

Im all for more teams, have 13 teams but only 22 or 24 grid spots
Bring back prequalifying, Only the fastest 2 dozen on Friday get to race.
Make Friday matter.

I also like the idea of customer cars. Let the big teams sell cars to new teams as a way to offset budget cap. It might cost 10 million to build the first car, but nce the RD and crash testing etc is paid, you can buil 4 cars for not a lot more than 2 and recover costs.

Maaybe only for new teams for their first few years, then they have to build their own or hand back the license. It would make for cheaper way in for new teams.
You could also get alpine car with Ferrari engine or similar combinations.
Even crazier you could get results where the customer team out do the main team in same car..

OR each team could field 3 cars, with car 3 being a "rookie car"
It could have different driver every rrace (Maybe ne driver can have no more than 4 races per year in it) could have totally different livery - local companies could back it for their race.

That way if you have a promising youngster with enough money and sponsors for 1 or 2 races, he/she could do a deal to buy a racce or 2 with his sponsors maybe a local not multinational stickers all over the car for his races. r they can test different set ups or new parts etc on it.
Young drivers get a chance to shine, teams get additional cash injection, more cars on the field...