Rafael Villagómez and Otmar Szafnauer target F1 entry with ambitious 12th team project. Rafael Villagómez and Otmar Szafnauer are working on a potential project.

Villagómez and Szafnauer: a project to enter F1 as the twelfth team

Mexican billionaire Rafael Villagómez, owner of Van Amersfoort Racing, is reportedly developing an ambitious plan to bring his team into Formula 1. He is working alongside former Aston Martin and Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer, who has recently taken on the role of CEO and Managing Partner within the organization, to explore a potential entry into the sport.

Another team on the grid?

The 2026 Formula 1 season has already marked the return of an eleventh team with the arrival of Cadillac. However, the expansion of the grid may not stop there in the coming years. At least, that is the idea behind the project led by Villagómez, who is actively considering ways to bring Van Amersfoort Racing into the championship.

The plan is being developed together with Szafnauer, an experienced figure in Formula 1 who has held multiple senior roles across various teams from the late 1990s through to 2023. Speaking to GP Blog, Szafnauer explained the discussions currently taking place:

“The owner and I were exploring the possibility of working together to create a Formula 1 team. That idea could still become reality if an interesting purchase opportunity arises or if the possibility opens up to form a twelfth team,” he said.

The main challenge

Van Amersfoort Racing recently became owned by Rafael Villagómez, and the team is already deeply involved across multiple junior categories, including Formula 2—where his son also competes—as well as Formula 3, Formula Regional Europe and Middle East, Formula 4, and the Formula Winter Series. It is one of the most active and established organizations in the feeder series ecosystem.

In fact, discussions for a Formula 1 entry as an eleventh team had already taken place, but the opportunity was ultimately secured by Cadillac. As a result, the current ambition is focused on entering as a twelfth team. However, the FIA does not currently appear willing to expand the grid further, particularly due to the new Concorde Agreement in place until 2030, which limits the number of teams to eleven.

Despite this, Villagómez remains optimistic. A potential green light would also mark the return of a Mexican-owned Formula 1 project for the first time since the Rebaque team, founded in the late 1970s by Héctor Rebaque.

Alternatively, if Formula 1 entry proves impossible, Rafael Villagómez could redirect the project toward another major championship, like IndyCar.

The potential entry of a 12th team would bring a new level of excitement to the sport, offering more seats for the talented young drivers currently stuck in the bottleneck of the junior categories. As the 2026 season continues to evolve, the paddock will be watching closely to see if Szafnauer’s political savvy and Villagomez’s financial backing can break through the barriers of the current Concorde Agreement. Whether it results in an F1 grid spot or a move across the Atlantic to IndyCar, the ambition of this project highlights the booming global interest in top-tier open-wheel racing.