Spyker keep a lid on expectations

With Dutch owners having recently taken over, the MF1 team have already recruited Mike Gascoyne as their technical chief and have clinched a deal with Ferrari for a supply of customer engines from next season.

And with rumours now linking Red Bull Racing designer Mark Smith to the outfit, where he would renew a working association with Gascoyne that yielded great results at Renault, the team are putting together the kind of organisation needed to swiftly move up the grid.

But team owner Michiel Mol has told autosport.com that he is not expecting any swift upturn in form - and that just occasional points finishes will make him happy next year.

"Our long term aim is to win races, but that is really long term," he explained. "If next year we will be in the points now and then, and maybe move up a place or two on the grid, then I will be happy. I think we would be doing a pretty job if we could do that."

Spyker CEO Victor Muller added: "Just think of the combination of a Dutch team, this beautiful orange car, Mike Gascoyne and a Ferrari engine. There are a lot of things that make our team very exciting."

Despite their own optimism for the future, Mol has expressed some sympathy about the plight of independent engine supplier Cosworth, who look likely to be out of F1 after Spyker-MF1 opted for Ferrari engines.

"What I feel most sorry about in this situation is Cosworth," he explained. "It is not clearly yet officially what Toro Rosso will do, but there might be a chance that they are out of F1 completely. They are good guys and it is a real pity."