When I started watching F1 in the year 2001 (it so happened that the year that Malaysian have their first F1 driver, Alex Yoong), the F1 have 11 teams and 22 drivers. At the end of 2001, team Prost couldn’t sustain and  bid farewell to the F1 club.

Prost F1

However, Toyota came in and we were still at 11 teams and 22 drivers.

In 2002, team Arrows have some financial problem and they had to withdrawn at the 3 quarter of the season and after that from 2002 till 2005, we were left with 10 teams and 20 drivers.

Arrows F1

In those 4 years, private owner teams couldn’t sustain the higher and higher cost of running the F1 and hence, we have ownership changed so many times.

Jaguar changed to Red Bull in 2005.

Jaguar F1

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Red Bull F1

Jordan changed to Midland in 2005, then to Spyker in 2007 and now Force India in 2008.

Jordan F1

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Midland F1

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Spyker F1

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Force India F1

Minardi, the smallest yet the most gung-ho team and loved by everyone changed to Toro Rosso in 2006.

Minardi F1

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Toro Rosso F1

Even Sauber couldn’t sustain that they have to partner with BMW in 2006.

Sauber F1

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BMW F1

BAR as well had been absorbed into Honda in 2006.

BAR F1

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Honda F1

And on 6 May 2008, we bid farewell to Super Aguri. A young team of 2 seasons and 4 races old team. Due to some sponsor issue last season, the team couldn’t survive and laid to rest. I was quite sad that F1 again goes back to 10 teams and 20 drivers. Arigato Suzuki-san for all his effort to setup a team in 2006.

Starting from 2008 Turkish GP, we are back to 10 teams and 20 drivers. Sad….

Super Aguri F1