Panthera Team Asia still eyes 2022 grid slot

Mark Scott
Australian Grand Prix PA

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The world health crisis has shelved a lot of sporting plans, but work is still going on to bring Panthera Team Asia to Formula 1 in 2022.

Formula 1 and the FIA have both welcomed the continued prospect of new teams joining the Formula 1 grid and the hope is that the new rules and regulations, now being introduced in 2022, will help attract new names.

The only fresh faces under Liberty Media’s tenure so far will be the return of the Aston Martin works team, but that will just be a continuation of the ex-Force India and current Racing Point outfit under the ownership of Lawrence Stroll’s consortium.

The likes of Audi and Porsche have been linked in the past, but Panthera Team Asia are still alive and kicking in turning their F1 dream into potential reality.

“It has been quite a rollercoaster, but we are still alive — the project is not done,” Panthera Team Asia boss Benjamin Durand told Autosport.

“We were already aiming for 2022 before the current crisis hit and we are still looking for a way in.

“We have had a group of people working on the car, doing some preliminary work on the aero side, and continue to work with investors.

“We are waiting to see what happens with F1 before we say more.

“People are talking about the possibility of being able to buy a [customer] car, so we will have to wait and see what happens.”

The only other strong rumour within the last 12 months regarding a prospective new Formula 1 team was the emergence of a Spanish team with strong connections to Campos Racing.

But Formula 1 quickly quashed those rumours saying no formal talks have taken place between the two parties.

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