Entry level

The Formula 1 grid could be bolstered by new teams, but they have a mountain to climb to reach the highest echelons of motor racing

- ANDREW COTTON

Formula 1 is close to reaching the solution to a conundrum that has bothered the series for more than a decade. How to make the category accessible to the very best new teams, without compromising the quality of the existing grid?

The category has 10 teams on the grid this season, providing 20 cars using power units from three suppliers. The numbers are encouraging on the face of it and there is certainly strength in numbers, but there are threats to the established competitors that have highlighted to the FIA the importance of opening up the possibility for new teams to join the series.

For the motor manufacturers supplying power units and factory teams to Formula 1, there is a lack of assurance regarding their continued racing programmes. Whereas in the past they could rely on petrol, now they need hybridisation or full electric to sell a racing programme to their board. Formula 1 has addressed this issue, introducing hybrid in 2014, but at a cost to the customer teams with no corresponding return.

Pressure on these manufacturer programmes has increased further recently. OEMs now face the disapproval of the general public, not only for CO2 and NOx emissions but also a further attack on personal mobility following the diesel gate scandal in 2015 that continues to rumble on and expand to other manufacturers and transport. A dramatic fall in personal journeys in COVID lockdown has put further pressure on manufacturers to produce ‘clean’ motoring, and governments are responding by offering heavy subsidies for new electric car sales.