More than a decade after the Caterham name disappeared from Formula 1, an investment company is working on a possible return to the grid. The initiative comes from SKM Capital, led by 24-year-old Kuwaiti investor Saad Kassis-Mohamed.
The plan is to reintroduce the Caterham name through a new team, SKM Racing. In an interview with Sportstar, Kassis-Mohamed suggests that the current Formula 1 offers more favorable conditions than when Caterham was active.
“F1 now operates with clearer financial frameworks and stable technical regulations, making the sport investable. We love the combination of top engineering, a global platform, and predictable cost structures,” says the investor.
Giedo van der Garde
Caterham made its debut in Formula 1 in 2012, after Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes renamed his team, which previously raced under the Lotus name. However, the team never managed to score points and disappeared from the grid in 2014 due to financial problems. Since 2021, the Caterham car brand has been owned by the Japanese group VT Holdings. One of the drivers who raced in Caterham colors was Giedo van der Garde. The Dutchman competed for the team in Formula 1 in 2013 and previously also tested for Caterham.
The chance of an actual return to the grid does not seem too great at first glance. A comeback in 2027 would mean that SKM Racing either has to buy into an existing team or wait for a new registration round from the FIA. This process usually proves difficult, as was evident in the case of Andretti-Cadillac, which only got the green light for entry in 2026 after lengthy negotiations.
