USF1 considering 12 drivers for 2010

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Alexander Wurz, Jacques Villeneuve, Jose Maria Lopez, Ken Anderson, Pedro de la Rosa, USF1

The USF1 team is assessing 12 drivers ahead of its first season in Formula 1 next year. The organisation, run by Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor, is yet to announce any part of its line-up although management is confident that, contrary to some reports, much progress is being made.

With the highly experienced Anderson and Windsor at the helm, the former is confident that – contrary to some reports – the outfit is not behind its fellow debutant teams as 2010 approaches. "We’re on schedule to complete out first chassis by November and the car will be completed in time for testing in February." American Team Principal Anderson told France’s AUTOhebdo.

Driver-wise, several names have been mentioned over the course of 2009, not least former F1 hotshot Alexander Wurz and 1997 Champion Jacques Villeneuve. Due to a lack of options in Europe and the difficulties to obtain an FIA Superlicence, however, Windsor has already cast doubts over whether an American driver will be recruited for the team’s first campaign.

Former Super Aguri driver Franck Montagny is also believed to be in touch as well as Argentina’s José María López who, after testing for Renault in 2006, visited the team’s factory on Thursday.

"The most important thing for us is to work with drivers who have experience in F1, simply because the number of test days has been decreased," Anderson continued, referring to the new limited testing regulations of this year. " Pedro de la Rosa is on our list – his F1 experience would be a major asset for us; our list has about twelve names on it – all are excellent drivers who could bring us a lot of money and choosing two or three of them will not be easy."