F1 braced for further expansion as team launch bid for 12th grid spot

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F1 braced for further expansion as team launch bid for 12th grid spot

The move would see a new team added to the fold in 2027

Originally written by Kevin McKenna. This version is a translation.

Friday 22 August 2025 19:00

A one-time F1 team is gearing up for a possible return to the grid after more than a decade away, they have announced.

Caterham failed to score a single point in their three active seasons from 2012-14, with their drivers including future Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson.

But thanks to the backing of 24-year-old Kuwaiti entrepreneur Saad Kassis-Mohamed and his investment firm, SKM Capital, the squad are gearing up for another crack in 2027.

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The project will operate as SKM Racing for now, and has already created a technical centre in Silverstone as a hub to produce parts, while its racing department will be based in Munich.

“Formula 1 is a disciplined engineering competition with a predictable cost framework,” said Marcine Graham, managing partner of SKM Capital, in a press release announcing the project.

Cadillac will become the 11th team in F1 next season

Caterham set for 2027 return?

The team have yet to confirm which engine supplier it would partner with, but they are relatively short on options, with Ferrari or Honda the only realistic candidates.

They face a race against time to be in a position to submit registration documents to the FIA by the start of 2026, before attention will turn to ensuring they are ready to hit the ground running the following season.

Nothing is guaranteed at this stage, however, with approval from the FIA and Formula One Management notoriously hard to acquire.

Should they be successful, the team would become the 12th representative on the grid, with Cadillac to be added to the current crop of 10 next year.

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