Rumors Of New F1 Team Gaining Momentum, But Brawn Says No Request Has Been Made

Rumors about a "potentially new Formula 1 team for next season are gaining momentum," according to GMM. The story "first began circulating within the Montreal paddock," including suggestions that the new operation was "being backed by Chinese investors." Germany's Auto Motor und Sport now "has more details, saying the team would be based in Oxfordshire, England." It is believed that several former Manor employees "have signed up to join the project." However, F1 Managing Dir Ross Brawn said that "no such team has made an official request to the sanctioning body." Brawn: "In the past few months, about 10 people have asked us. But they all wanted to know if we would change the statutes so that new teams will be included in the (income) distribution. We have replied that we are bound by the existing contracts until 2020" (GMM, 6/19).