Caterham F1 back in 2027? Yes, that’s the new project

Caterham F1 could return to the grid thanks to the ambitious project of a young and wealthy 24-year-old investor.

This young entrepreneur aims to bring the team back Caterham F1 by 2027, albeit under a new name. The defunct team, which folded in 2014, would be revived by Kuwaiti businessman Saad Kassis-Mohamed. Featured in Forbes’ 2025 “Under 30” list as one of Africa’s most commercially influential figures, Kassis-Mohamed leads the highly profitable SKM Capital. His plan? To invest $280 million over three years to fund the team’s comeback.

“Formula 1 is a disciplined engineering competition within a predictable cost framework. This combination makes it investable,” explains Marcine Graham, Managing Partner at SKM Capital. “We are building a compact, data-driven organization that is sustainably and credibly competitive from the very beginning.”

Silverstone and Germany as tech centers

The company SKM Racing has reportedly already opened a first technical research and development center in Silverstone. This facility will allow the team to manufacture and test components in-house, eliminating the need for external suppliers. However, the main headquarters for the team’s sporting operations will likely be based in Munich. There engineers and top management will define the direction and strategy for upcoming projects.

Few People for a big project

He only named a few key people for the project: Elena Richter (Managing Director), Marco Bianchi (Technical), and Aisha Khan (Performance) already have experience in Formula 1 or international motorsport. Tobias Meier (Finance) is also part of the team.

The SKM project and the future Caterham F1 team are expected to begin with a total staff of around 210 people, with plans to hire an additional 100 employees over the next three years. Research and development efforts will also involve collaborations with universities in the UK and across Europe. “We’re not hiring more people than we truly need before our base is fully established,” explains Richter, assuring: “We’re in advanced talks with two current Formula 1 power unit manufacturers. We’re discussing a multi-year supply deal and a technological partnership.”

Not all components of the car will be produced in-house. Over time, partnerships will be established with various suppliers to handle different parts. This approach will allow the team to allocate more time and resources to internal projects and long-term development. SKM has set itself an ambitious timeline: by early 2026, the team aims to submit its full application to the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and have its Silverstone facility fully operational. In the third quarter of 2026, the first chassis should be ready and system checks will begin on the test benches.

The approval process for what could become the new Caterham F1 Team by the FIA may face several challenges. Recently, the Andretti project—later joined by Cadillac and General Motors—had to undergo extremely strict regulations and reviews before being granted entry into Formula 1, which will officially happen in 2026. Incidentally, we’ve published an article detailing the driver choices Cadillac has made for their F1 debut.

Why to choose Caterham F1 Team as investment?

As SKM’s marketing department explains, choosing a team name that already has global recognition is a strategic advantage for the new structure. The name “Caterham” is familiar to motorsport fans and still carries a legacy that, with the right investment, could thrive again in Formula 1. The team previously competed under the Malaysian flag and faced three difficult years in F1 from 2012 to 2014 before ultimately folding in 2015. After the collapse, most of the team’s assets were either sold or auctioned off, with parts of the operation later absorbed by the Lotus F1 Team under the leadership of Tony Fernandes.