Rumoured F1 Teams for 2008

[andrebrown1]

With the WMC meeting scheduled for the 22nd March and Max Mosely opening the F1 2008 entry window for only a week after that, which rumoured new teams/individuals does the forum think will actually submit an entry application?

[avsfan733]

Penske

possibly whatever McLaren Junior becomes

[Sodemo]

Prodrive seem the most likely candidate.

[ss_collins]

Prodrive - I'm certain. But there is a major headache coming for someone, and only F2 can solve it.

[Alwaysfirst]

Prodrive, McLaren 2 (Direxiv?), Penske & Irvines team seem the most likely with a couple of GP2 teams also looking at mooving up (ART, Super Nova). Do we know yet if the limit of 12 teams will be lifted?

[Dixie Flatline]

To be pessimistic, none.

Mosley wants entries for two seasons away. Will people be willing to put their names and reputations on the line when nobody knows how the global economy will look like in two years, which affects sponsorship, revenue, the whole kit and kaboodle.

And, by the way, welcome to Ten-Tenths, andrebrown1.

[Dutton]

Alwaysfirst, iirc, whilst we had hoped for the limit being increased, it is going to stay at 12.

I may have imagined discovering that, but that is what is in my head.

[JABWOA]

Team Dubai (announced back in '04 for an '06 start with DC as prefered driver hence one year contract with RedBull, or so it appeared back then...)

[TheNewBob]

What was the reason behind limiting to 12 teams anyway? Was all managed perfectly well before '94/'95 when we had 26 cars on the grid - I'd have thought an extra 13th team would be another ideal opportunity for the likes of Bernie to gain yet more stupid amounts of money from!

Or is it just that they don't want yet another team disagreeing with them and everyone else...?

From the looks of this thread there are numerous names interested in competing in a cheaper Formula 1 - with a lot of decent drivers not getting seats, too, it seems like genuine interest is going to waste, here...?

[ss_collins]

12 limit came about officially due to pit lane sizes safe number of cars on track, paddock size, blah blah

The real reason is the value of a team - with 12 teams on the grid - the value of every team rockets. Then if someone like VAG wanted to enter they would have to buy a team out - and someone gets very very rich indeed. So I very much doubt that the 12 rule will be dropped - check the 2008 sporting regs to see if its in there

[Suze]

Prodive and maybe direxiv / McLaren?

Sure there's a recent topic on here about 12 team rule, unless it was a conversation I had....there was a bit of a debate iirc as to which GPs could *not* accommodate more than 12 teams, and the money came into it as well.....

[shambles]

I'd love to see Prodrive take the plunge. They are building a F1 standard factory just up the road from me in Warwick; so I think they have clear intentions.

[Suze]

There was plans of it in Autosport not so long ago I think....

[chillibowl]

the mar. 2 ish. has a layout of the proposed new prodrive facility.

as a side, many teams (according to max & bernie) will enter if costs are reduced, but my question is how will this work if the costs of just building up a facility to even compete in F1 will be as high if not higher than the proposed budgets of $150 mill.

i cant imagine the big boys will be willing to accept a reduced operating budget when new teams will be spending a considerable amount on top of that just to catch up.

in other words even if costs are reduced accross the board, wont the only new teams we see just be the result of someone leaving and a new player just buying the exiting team?