The former team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, wants to bring VAR to the grid as the 12th team. They would compete against the Chinese giant BYD, which is also evaluating making the jump to the category.
The Formula 1 grid could expand again, and Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) wants to be part of that future, the Dutch team, which currently competes in Formula 2 with Argentine driver Nicol谩s Varrone, revealed its ambition to become the 12th team in the top category. The man leading this offensive is Otmar Szafnauer, former team principal of Force India, Racing Point, Aston Martin and Alpine, who joined VAR as its new CEO.
Szafnauer explained that this project has been in the works for some time: "The owner and I were considering the possibility of collaborating on a Formula 1 team," he declared to GPblog, his original plan was to apply for the 11th slot, but Cadillac ended up taking that spot, now, his focus has shifted to the next opportunity. "When they open up the possibility of a 12th team, we also want to take part in it or invest in one," Szafnauer added.
The strategy is closely linked to VAR's majority shareholder, Rafael Villag贸mez Sr., whose son, Rafael Villag贸mez Jr., also drives for the team in F2, together, they believe the time has come to make the jump to the pinnacle of motorsport. For now, VAR remains focused on its 2026 F2 campaign, where Varrone made his debut in Australia and even led several laps, the next round will be in Miami on May 3.
VAR would not be alone in its pursuit of the 12th slot, according to a Bloomberg report, Chinese automotive giant BYD is also seriously interested in entering Formula 1, the electric vehicle manufacturer sees the category as a global showcase to demonstrate its technological capability and boost its worldwide image. The entry cost to F1 is estimated at 500 million dollars annually, but Bloomberg notes that the exposure alone could justify the investment.
BYD is also evaluating a cheaper alternative: a program in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), whose cost would be about ten times lower, for now, F1 remains the grand prize. The category itself has expressed interest in having a Chinese team on the grid, something that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had previously supported, thus a possible duel is set between a historic organization like VAR and a corporate giant like BYD.
For Szafnauer, who spent decades in the F1 paddock, returning with a new project is a personal challenge: "I built a good relationship with the owner when we were thinking about creating the 11th team," he recalled. Now, they are waiting for F1 to officially open the process for a 12th team, if that happens, the fight for the last spot on the grid will be intense.