New F1 team confirms 2021 ambition

A new team is hoping to make its Formula 1 debut in 2021.

During the summer break, reports emerged that a new outfit called Panthera has set up camp near the British F1 GP venue at Silverstone.

"I would welcome them," Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost said at Spa.

Germany's Auto Bild now has the details, including the team's full name: Panthera Team Asia F1.

One of its founders is Benjamin Durand, who is best known for being involved in the Russian project SMP Racing, headed by billionaire Boris Rothenberg. SMP Racing promotes Renault test driver Sergey Sirotkin.

Durand confirmed: "Our goal is Formula 1 in 2021."

Auto Bild said another Panthera founder is Michael Orts, a French lawyer who was recently linked with another prospective F1 team, China F1 Racing Team.

The report said Panthera is eyeing a Haas-like business model for the new budget cap era in 2021, perhaps in collaboration with Renault.

Ross Brawn, however, is not keen on opening F1's door to new teams until 2022.

"We have a surprising number of teams showing interest," said the F1 sporting boss. "But what we're saying to these teams is 'let's introduce the rules first and stabilise the situation before we start looking for new teams'."

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