F1: No serious discussions with new teams for 2021

Formula 1 has issued a statement denying there are strong candidates to join the grid for the 2021 season, saying there are "no serious discussion" taking place with interested parties.

2021 will see F1 overhaul its technical and sporting regulations as well as introducing a new set of commercial agreements, leading to suggestions it could offer a chance for new teams to join the grid.

A project linked to Spanish junior team Campos Racing announced its plans to join the F1 grid for 2021 on Thursday, claiming talks were at "an advanced stage", while a second project known as Panthera has also expressed an interest in joining the field.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, F1 quashed the claims by saying there were no serious talks taking place with new teams.

"Following publicity in recent days from several entities that have indicated their ambition to participate in the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2021, while Formula 1 appreciates their interest, we can confirm that there are no serious discussions with any persons or companies about the admission of a new team," the statement reads.

The statement follows expressions of doubt about the chances of a new team joining the grid for 2021 by both F1 managing director Ross Brawn and FIA president Jean Todt. No official tender requesting expressions of interest has been issued by the FIA, either.

The F1 grid has stood at 10 teams following the collapse of the Manor operation at the end of the 2016 season. The last new team to join the field was Haas, which debuted in the same year and has since gone on to finish fifth in the constructors' championship.