Red Bull still looking to form US F1 team

Dieter Mateschitz, who heads up the Austrian company, says that he is behind plans to get an American F1 team off the ground and that the recent announcement concerning Red Bull's sponsorship of the Team Cheever IRL squad next year will not hamper his US venture.

Mateschitz is a major shareholder in the Sauber F1 team, but the Austrian has switched his backing to Arrows for 2002 and has admitted to having had talks with US car giant General Motors, with a view to securing an engine deal for his future F1 team.

"We want to persuade GM that the costs for a hi-tech engine would reduce the overall spending for development of mass production engines," said Mateschitz.

However, GM, which is the only one of the three major US manufacturers not to be involved in F1, has denied having any talks with Mateschitz.

"I am not aware of any meetings Mateschitz may have had and I have never spoken to him," said GM motorsport boss Herb Fishel.

It is, as yet, unclear as to whether the American team would be formed through Arrows or started up as a completely new team, but the latter option would need the consent of existing F1 bosses to allow a 13th team. Team Cheever boss and former F1 driver Eddie Cheever could also be involved.

"My focus for 2002 is to win the IRL and the Indy 500 for Red Bull and Infiniti," said Cheever. "But if Red Bull and Arrows have other thoughts for the future, I'd listen carefully."

For the full story and Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw's reaction, check out this week's AUTOSPORT magazine.