In the world of Formula 1, the grid changes more often than it seems. Over time we have seen the departure of teams that have made history, but also the attempt to enter by new aspiring champions. Some names are associated with nostalgia and glory, others with ambition, and still others with disaster. For every team we have lost there is another that knocks on the door with strength and determination: from the teams that have made the history of F1 such as Lotus to teams waiting for a chance like the Cadillac.
Lotus, Brabham, Toyota…: the great teams that are no more
When you think of the lost teams, the name Lotus is always the first to come to mind. Founded by Colin chapman, the British team has been a symbol of ingenuity and technical daring for many years. We have seen drivers of the calibre of Jim Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna race under the Lotus star. The English team has won a total of 7 constructors' and 6 drivers' world titles, which is very similar to the exploits of the current Mercedes. Its last official appearance, excluding the nominal return, dates back to 1994, but the mark it has left on the history of this sport is indelible.
Another team that has left the F1 circus, and that perhaps not everyone remembers, is the Brabham. The history of this team is incredible, something that we could not see repeated in modern Formula 1 today. It was founded by --Jack Brabham, as well as the only driver to win a world championship with a car built by himself, and for this reason the Brabham team was a protagonist in the 60s and 80s, managing to win 4 constructors' world titles. Despite the heroic deeds that distinguished it, it closed its doors definitively in 1992, but remains one of the most respected historic brands in the paddock.
But not only such "old" teams, even the last twenty years have said goodbye to some teams, among these we remember the Toyota. Which participated in F1 from 2002 to 2009 with a huge budget and practically unlimited resources, unfortunately without ever winning a race. In those same years we also saw the Honda, from 2006 to 2008. After two complicated seasons, he left F1 at the end of the 2008 season. Ironically, from the ashes of Honda was born the Brawn gp, who won everything in 2009 with the same material with Jenson Button.
The teams knocking on F1's door
2026, in addition to countless technical and regulatory changes, will also see the entry of an eleventh team on the grid: Cadillac. A clear example of America knocking hard on the door of Formula 1, but above all a concrete project that next year we will have the honor of seeing on the track, not without the technical and financial support of the giant General Motors. The FIA has already approved the candidacy, but the FOM and the teams remain reluctant. The main problem could be that of upsetting the economic balance of the current F1.
In recent years, names like Panthera, Racing fields o HitechGP have tried to match Cadillac's feat. However, none seem to have achieved a sufficient level of credibility or investment to convince the circus. It is also worth mentioning the near entry of Porsche, which entered the paddock in 2022 in partnership with Red Bull, but due to too different visions, that of Porsche in F1 remained just a dream.
F1 changes, but does not forget
Every team that leaves Formula 1 takes with it a piece of history. Every new hopeful brings dreams and tensions. The future of the category will inevitably pass through a balance between tradition and renewal. Maybe one day we will see the Lotus team in a new guise in F1 or maybe a Cadillac fighting for the constructors' championship. What we are sure of is that F1 never stops evolving.
