F1: USF1 May Be Forced To Reconsider All-American Line Up

FORMULA 1 NEWCOMER USF1 has been forced to reconsider consider its stated aim of fielding an All-American driver line-up next season.

Co-founder Peter Windsor said the team has struggled to identify American-born talents capable of making the leap to the pinnacle of motorsport, suggesting it may even be forced to hire two foreign drivers.

He said to Autosport: “Because of all the time we've lost, our ambition to run two young Americans is looking more difficult.

“I'm still hoping we'll be able to run one American, but that's a tall order because there aren't many Americans out there with superlicences.”

Windsor said the team may instead instigate a driver development program to help foster the next generation of US drivers and identify any potential future F1 stars.

“If we can't fulfil that in 2010, we will certainly put a programme together for young Americans," he said.

"We're making sure we're disciplined to put some money aside to help them with what they are doing whether it's Formula BMW in Europe, Formula Ford 2000 in the States or even GP2.

"GP2 is expensive, but I'm hoping we can find enough money to do that if that's what needs to be done."

USF1 had previously indicated an interest in acquiring the services of Danica Patrick, the leading American-born driver in IndyCar, but talk surrounding any potential moves to sign the 27-year-old has since quietened.

Former Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed, the last American to compete in Formula 1, has also been earmarked for the outfit, but Windsor said his team is inclined to sign a more experienced driver to assist the team’s development.

McLaren’s Pedro de la Rosa and Alexander Wurz are among the names to have been linked to USF1, while former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has expressed interest in returning to the series.

Windsor said he was buoyant at the prospect of handpicking USF1’s driver pairing from the plethora of talent potentially available at his disposal.

“There is a huge argument for running one experienced driver to give us that leg up into year one,” he said.

“It's a buyer's market. Let's hope that really talented drivers like Anthony Davidson, Jamie Green and Gary Paffett all get a chance in F1 because it's sad that so many talented drivers haven't had a chance.”