A new F1 team is set to be unveiled in time for the 2026 season in what will represent a serious shake-up for the sport.

Ex-BAR team boss Craig Pollock is set to head up the aptly named Formula Equal, which is expected to have a 50/50 percent split between men and women working for the team.

The team, which is expected to function outside an unspecified area of the Gulf country, although Saudi Arabia is thought to be the masterminds behind the project.

Pollock clearly outlined his plans recently, ensuring that women need to have a fairer pathway into F1, with Junior team Hitech and French-owned Panthera Team Asia also lodging official Expressions of Interest in the tender process.

Discussing the proposals, Pollock said: "This has been going on for close on four years, the building of a brand new Formula 1 team, but taking into it our ambition to deliver and build opportunities and pathways for women to get to the very top level inside motorsports.

"The concept and the idea was to try and build a Formula 1 team that is 50% male, 50% female, which is extremely hard to do if you have an existing Formula 1 team. This is a lot easier with a clean sheet."

Although we are only in the nascent stages of the new F1 season, Red Bull are in danger of running away with things, and they have enjoyed a one-two in the first two races. They are already currying a lot of favour with many sportsbooks, including Unibet. Doubling up as a casino operator, Unibet also offers one of the most competitive casino bonuses in the UK, with its flagship promotion being a £40 free bet when you deposit £10. For anyone that fancies a flutter, its sportsbook counterpart currently has Red Bull priced at 1/18 to lift the Constructors Championship, while Max Verstappen is at a very short 1/7 to be crowned world champion.

The need to create greater levels of equality within F1 was also recently highlighted by Red Bull team manager Christian Horner, describing it as inevitable.
In an interview, he said: "I think it is fantastic to see the amount of girls, females that are showing interest in Formula One now and we're seeing it at all levels.

"I think the interest is growing. It is appealing to more women to get involved in the sport, whether that is from an engineering basis, or across all aspects of the organisation.

"As the sport does become more accessible, and we are pushing to make it more accessible, I think that is something that will naturally happen anyway."

While F1 is currently a male-dominated sport, news surrounding Formula Equal will make them a trailblazer, and it is something that should be celebrated. We can't wait to see what kind of impact they could have when they make their official debut.