Horner calls for more F1 teams

Christian Horner leads calls for more teams in F1

Christian Horner has suggested that Formula 1 needs more teams, as a congestion of young people is building up on the periphery of the sport.

Alex Albon, Nyck de Vries, Callum Illot, Guanyu Zhou, Oscar Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg and many others are currently sitting on the outside, vying for a few remaining drivers in the stupid 2021 season.

After George Russell was confirmed at Mercedes yesterday, only Williams and Alfa Romeo Sauber remain vacant – Haas is ready to confirm that Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin will stay with the team for the coming days.

With Nicholas Latifi tending to stick with Williams and Valtteri Bottas’ move to Sauber was confirmed earlier this week, the inn is running out of space.

“I actually think we’re probably missing a team or two,” said Horner.

“In Formula 2, too, there are a lot of young people who deserve a chance, and at the moment there are simply not enough places.

“So you’re waiting for a Kimi to retreat to open a place for a boy somewhere in the chain to come in.

“So definitely, I think a team or two could be accommodated in the sport.”

Haas was the latest addition to the sport; before that, in 2010, the grid welcomed Virgin Racing, Lotus Racing and the Hispania Racing Team.

USF1 was also due to join, although it turned out to be a stillborn project that never really got off the ground.

They were lured under the pretext of cost control, regulations that never came into effect and left them all behind.

A decade later, none of them exist, an ironic development given that Formula 1 introduced financial regulations and a cost cap that year.

It is predicted that this development could lead teams to become profitable, fueling investment and interest in the teams themselves from companies like Dorilton Capital, which Williams bought a year ago.

Not all are on the same page, however, and Toto Wolff points out that the closed nature of the current network adds value.

“I think Formula 1 is a closed club like the American franchises, which makes them the Champions League of motorsport,” he said.

Instead of increasing the number of teams, Wolff suggests teams simply use a third car or find other options exclusively for young drivers.

“I was always in favor of not just doing the mandatory FP1 sessions, but maybe adding a race or two where these young drivers or rookies race and actually have to be part of the constructors’ championship,” added Wolff.

“Or even more radically, a third car with a compulsory rookie driver is financially viable, and suddenly we have a starting field of 30 cars.

“The smaller teams can finance these seats by funding the drivers or sponsors, so that could be very exciting.”

The prospect of third cars has been a hot topic in F1 over the past few seasons.

While it has been like that in the past few years, arguments lately have focused on the disadvantage that it would bring to the teams that are at the bottom of the field if a third Mercedes or Red Bull appear on the grid.

Another argument against network expansion is the division of the prize money.

Historically, this was paid out to teams through two columns; one based on the previous season’s finishing order and another on teams that have placed in the top 10 constructors in two of the last three seasons.

Of course, adding more teams increases competition for this pool, or changing its distribution to accommodate new teams dilutes it.

However, teams rarely vote to cut their slice of the F1 pie.

“Ultimately, I would say, we will probably need between two and four more cars on the grid to give young talents the opportunity to show themselves.” [their] Colors in Formula 1 ”, concludes Horner.

While whispers about new manufacturers entering Formula 1 keep circling the paddock, there are no solid indications that there is any serious interest right now.

F1 is seeing a significant change in regulations regarding aerodynamic rules over the next year, with a similar jump expected on the engine side in 2025.

It is therefore unlikely that, at least until these regulations have been formalized, which will be met this weekend in Monza, a new member will come online.