2019 Preview: Historic Team Names

They say its easier to buy an existing company than start up your own. Only a handful of teams are Ferrari, McLaren, Haas and Williams (though you could argue it is Williams version 2.0 (version 1.0 being bought out by Wolf (not Toto Wolff (though he did own a bit of Williams V2 at one stage) but Walter Wolf)) phew!).

Two teams have changed hands once Toro Rosso used to be Minardi, and Alfa Romeo used to be Sauber (with a few years as BMW, but they still retained the Sauber name).

However there are four teams that have a more colourful history.

---

Team Silverstone

Jordan

>>>

Jordan started the team from 1991 having run various lower formulae teams. When a contract dispute with Vodafone didn't go his way and Honda deciding to pair with BAR, the team quickly ran into money problems and went to the back of the grid. 2005 was the final season under the Jordan name.

Midland F1

In 2006, for the most part, it competed as Midland F1. Except they didn't make it all the way through the season.

Spyker

>>>

Spyker quickly reliveried the car from the Italian GP, but thankfully we had a much toned down version in 2007.

Force India

>>>

From 2008, Vijay Mallya bought the team and it was then known as Force India right through to 2018, well the middle of 2018 when it became...

Racing Point

So apparently the point is a full stop. With the title sponsor, the team is then "SportPesa Racing ."
It's like a joke that you have to explain isn't funny, I get its trying to be clever but I suppose I preferred they didn't revive the Lola name when they had nothing to do with them. The best 'pound-for-pound' team will receive a cash boost with this latest change of ownership and they will be looking to regain 4th in the Constructors' Championship.

---

Team Enstone

Toleman

Toleman competed between 1981 through to 1985. I only had two Tolemans in my collection, this one with Senna driving.

Benetton

>>>

The clothing company, Benetton, bought the team and introduced its bright colours to the grid. Winning two championships with Schumacher in the mid-90s, the team would eventually sell up in 2001 to Renault.

Renault

>>>

Renault also won two championships with Fernando Alonso. Renault left the sport at the end of 2010, with the team being bought by Genii capital.

Lotus

>>>

They called the team Lotus, even though there was another team called Lotus because they correctly bought the rights, but Proton who owned actual Lotus wanted this team to be called Lotus. Lotus (the other team) became Caterham and Renault transitioned from Lotus Renault to Lotus...

Renault

... and back to Renault again when the manufacturer saved the team from a dire financial situation towards the end of the 2015 season. Renault will be looking to catch the leading three teams in the coming couple of years. This season they will want to be a clear 4th, but that seems like it is not going to be an easy task.

---

Team Braxley

Tyrrell

>>>

Ken Tyrrell ran Matra cars from 1968, before making his own cars and entering as Tyrrell in 1970. The team were successful in the early 70s, but their competitiveness began to wane, until they were eventually sold to British American Tobacco when they had sunk to the back of the grid in 1998.

BAR

>>>

BAR told us they would win their first Grand Prix. They didn't even score a point all 1999. They wanted to run two seperate liveries, but ended up with the two sides of the car in different liveries. So I'm posting a picture of their much better testing livery. Consistent podium finishes in 2004 saw the team bought by Honda in 2005.

Honda

>>>

The team became Honda in 2006, but the team slipped backwards in competitiveness. It wasn't until 2009 that they would produce a competitive car, but Honda were suffering in the recession and pulled out of the sport at the end of 2008.

Brawn GP

For one glorious season, we had Brawn GP. From the brinks of closing down, this team won it all in 2009 before being bought out by Mercedes.

Mercedes

In 2010, with Rosberg and Schumacher at the wheel, Mercedes began their F1 come-back which has so far seen them win 5 Championships in a row to date. Will they make it a sixth straight year? It looks like they have their biggest fight yet going into 2019.

---

Team Milton Keynes

Stewart

>>>

Jackie and son Paul Stewart entered a Fords works backed team in 1997. They made good progress, producing a quick but slightly fragile car in 1999. They won their first Grand Prix that season, by which time Ford wanted to buy him out. 

Jaguar

>>>

And Ford called the team Jaguar and brought a welcome green livery back to F1. Unfortunately the team never enjoyed any success and Ford sold out to a drinks company. 

Red Bull Racing

Red Bull made slow initial progress, and the arrival of Adrian Newey did not see much of a boost initially. But with new regulations in 2009, Newey and his team worked with Renault to produce some competitive cars, winning four straight championships. In 2019, a new era with Honda engines promises a return to the front in the near future. How soon can they start competing for championships again is the big question.