F1 News: Jamie Chadwick Confirmed Seat But FIA Rules Against
Jamie Chadwick's F1 seat was confirmed by a team whose application to enter Formula 1 has been rejected by the FIA. Had Rodin secured a spot on the grid, Jamie would've been the first woman to race in Formula 1 in recent times.
However, Rodin has made a huge announcement of Formula 1's 11th team. The New Zealand-based car manufacturer said that it was rejected by the FIA as a bidder to enter Formula 1. In addition, it expects Andretti Global to be the "only successful applicant."
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As reported by The Race, Rodin applied to join Formula 1 in response to the FIA's call to potential F1 entrants to add to the current grid. The company, which is headed by Australian founder David Dicker, is a major shareholder of single-seater powerhouse Carlin Motorsport.
Rodin released a statement from Dicker stating that it had been turned down by the FIA. The statement, made from the viewpoint of informing the public also states that Andretti Global, which partnered with General Motors to form Andretti Cadillac for F1, is the only successful applicant to have earned a spot on the grid.
Andretti Press Image
The statements released are not meant to criticise the FIA and seek reconsideration of its verdict, but to release information Rodin considers as public interest, apart from listing the differences between its bid and that of Andretti.
Rodin's bid included its commitment to building its cars in New Zealand, a point that Dicker felt could turn the bid in their favor considering that all ten teams in Formula One have their build facilities in Europe. In addition, the applicant also guaranteed a female driver on the grid whose main candidate was three-time W series champion Jamie Chadwick.
Chadwick raced this year in Indy NXT for Andretti. However, Dicker seems to have been mighty impressed by her as she "performed exceptionally well" during the testing of Rodin's FZed single-seater in New Zealand. He said:
"If she was available, we would have no hesitation in putting her in a seat."
Williams Press Image
Rodin hints that its ownership of Carlin could open "the opportunity of discussions for a Ferrari collaboration." After all, the company is sound financially to fund the F1 program from the founder's personal wealth.
Apart from Andretti Cadillac and Rodin, several other entities have either made a bid or have publicly announced it. They include Asian projects LKY Sunz, junior single-seater outfit Hitech, and BAR co-founder Craig Pollock's Formula Equal.
What we can expect? I think an official announcement from the FIA on the selection of Andretti Cadillac as the eleventh team is imminent, sooner or later.