Mayra Madrigal
Formula 1, better known as F1, is the world’s top-notch motor racing competition and therefore also the best-known motorsport championship. Throughout the years many teams have participated, but not all of them have managed to remainin the competition, as there are some that despite having excelled in the time they were part of the top category, even being champions, they were forced to disappear.
On this occasion at JefeBet, we bring you the Formula 1 teams that no longer exist and which were forced to disappear, but still remain in the memory of motorsport lovers.
5. Lotus
Lotus F1 Team first appeared in 2012 in the top class of motorsport, however this team’s history with Formula 1 dates back to the championship’s beginnings in 1954 when it competed under the name of Team Lotus. In 2012, the British team had Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean as its drivers. With Kimi in their ranks, who was world champion in 2007, the reinvented team was promising, and at the end of the season the results placed them as one of the best teams due to the fact that they won a race and the drivers were on the podium on several occasions.
However, the following seasons were not so good, as the modifications made to the single-seater for the 2014 season did not benefit them, on the contrary, they harmed them. The team’s last season in Formula 1 was in 2015 and at the end of the year, the team was sold to Renault.
4. Maserati
Maserati was an F1 team in 1950 and it was part of the modern era of motor racing, but after a break, it continued its journey from 1952 to 1957. This team was champion twice, in 1954 and 1957, both times with the Argentinean driver Juan Manuel Fangio. The Italian team suffered financially and had to leave Formula 1 in 1958.
3. Prost
Prost Grand Prix was a French racing team headed by former world champion Alain Prost. The team only participated from 1997 to 2001 and the best result obtained was a second place in the Spanish Grand Prix, during its debut year in the top category. In 2002, it was declared bankrupt and was forced to cease operations.
2. Marussia
Between 2012 and 2015, Marussia F1 Team was part of the highest category of motorsport. The UK-based Russian team had Timo Glock and Charles Pic in its first season as its driver duo. 2012 was a nightmare for the team as they finished second to last overall. This team disputed a total of 74 races in Formula 1, but there were no podiums nor victories. So, in the face of poor results and economic problems in 2015, the team was sold to Manor Motorsport, and although in that season it was still known as Marussia, in 2016 it became Manor Racing.
1. Sauber
The Swiss team first appeared in F1 in 1993, and lived its first stage until 2005. In that year it was sold to BMW, so it began to compete under the German flag for the next four years. In 2011 it reverted to using the name Sauber F1 Team, following BMW’s withdrawal from F1. It remained in the top category until 2018, but in 2019 it became Alfa Romeo. This F1 team is known for having given the first opportunity to Mexican Sergio Pérez.
