Newbies

This is the first news I have read about the new teams for a while.

How long does it take to create a Formula 1 car? I don't just mean create the first rolling chassis, I mean test the car to the point where it is ready to go racing the next day.


My understanding, based on Toyota's protracted and sometimes controversial testing programme before they joined the grid in 2002, is that it takes considerably longer than all the new teams that are due to enter F1 in 2010 have had since their applications were acccepted.


As a result, I am bit confused as to why we are only just now hearing about one of the teams readying their car. I'm glad to see that it is the Manor Motorsport team as in my mind, they are the most deserving of the three new entries because of their extensive and illustrious experience in motorsport. Any team that ran Hamilton and Raikkonen to lower formulae titles surely deserves to join them on the grid.


The doubts over USF1 appear to have been silenced for a while as Autosport reported this week that they have settled on their European base and the BBC reported that the team had impressed FIA inspectors. However, I'm still concerned that there is no official news on Campos; their substandard official website does not even have a news section.


F1's future is no longer in doubt, but I can't help feeling that Prodrive should have been chosen over Campos and that the former BMW team should be in readiness to replace USF1.