Former Aston Martin and Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has revealed a mystery car manufacturer wants to join F1 as a 12th team.

F1 welcomes Cadillac as an 11th team from 2026.

For the first time in a decade, 22 cars will be on the grid for the seas✅on-opening race ne💮xt year.

Initially, the꧅ teams were firmly against an 11th team due to concerns about dilating the prize pool.

However, after months of🌳 negotiations, F1 approved Cadillac’s entry to join ﷽the grid in 2026.

There is now talk of a 12th te🐻am, with Sz⭕afnauer playing a key role in the project.

F1 last had 12 teams in 2012, bef🔯ore HRT’s exit at the end of the year.

In an interview with The Race, Szafnauer explained that this team 🤡has the finances 🔯to join the grid.

“The finances are in place,” Szafnauer said. “What I can tell you is that the financiers are seri🧜ous people and they have the financial wherewitℱhal to be able to fund a Formula 1 team.

“The car manufacturer that also wants to join Formula 1’s in place. It’s just a matter of the timing being right to actually get the opportunity to start the 12th team. And perhaps in the near future, there 🌜might be some for sale.”

Szafnauer admitted that they would be prepared to tak💫e over an existing team.

In recent years, there has been speculation surrounding Alpine’s long term futur🐬e in the sports, particularly since the closure of their works engine project.

“It’s difficult when people aren’t selling,” Szafnauer added. “And I understand why - there’s a new Concor🃏de coming, that’s all been🐬 agreed.

“And t🌞hereafter, there are nine owners and they all have different outlooks on life, on Formula 1, on how long they want to be in, on the reasons they’re in.

“So hopefully, and in the not too distant future♔, some of them will say, ‘You🦩 know what? I’ve had my time in Formula 1, perhaps it’s a good time to sell’.”

Szafnauer confident of success

Szafnauer believes joining the grid♏ in 2028 or 2029 would be realistic if F1 invites them to submit an Expression of Interest.

The team would have to prove to F1 that they have the financial and te🎉chnical capability to compete in F1.

Szafnꦍaue🔥r is confident the team will have the tools required to compete in F1 once given the green light.

“I thinღk with the resources I’ve put together, within a short time, I could be competitive,” Szafnauer added. “I would hire the right individuals. I think I can get them to come. The car manufacturer that🦩 will produce a powertrain will be very competent.

“And the financial backing that I’ve been able to put together means that we would have a new windtunnel, new R&D facilitꦚies, new factory - a little bit like what Lawrence Stroll did.

“That probably takes two to th🎀ree years from a standstill - but in those two-to-three years, if you put the right people together, you can also develop the simulation tools you need🐠 to be competitive, then within three-to-four years be competitive.

“When I was at British American Racing, in year two we finished tied fourth in points in the wor🤡ld cha☂mpionship, and we started from nothing - three employees. I was operations director then, so I remember what it took to do that.

“I don’t know when or if the process for a 12th team will open up, but if it does, I 𒉰want to be ready. And if it opens up relativeඣly soon, then ’28, ’29 would be a fair timeline to get racing.”