Remember when Formula One was really boring? You should, because it wasn't long ago at all. But, thanks to the whole Honda-turns-Brawn GP-turns-title contender thing recently, and the Max Mosely affair, it's all getting good again.

And by 'Max Mosely affair' we're talking about his desire to whip the teams into shape via a budget cap (what else?), which has gone down like Lewis Hamilton's title chances this season, but which is, to the casual observer at least, making the Formula One circus amusing again. Ferrari is most vociferous in its contempt for the £40m cap, claiming it will lead to a silly 'two-tiered' grid in which the teams who opt out of the cap scheme compete against each other in their big budget, massively restricted cars, while the others race each other in machines enjoying more mechanical freedom, but a 'miserly' team budget.

Ironically, however, it's the budget cap that has allowed Aston to enter a team. The £40m figure is expected to be raised by the time it's implemented, but there's no doubt it will come into force - whether Ferrari spits its front splitter out and leaves F1 or not.

Aston will partner racing specialists Prodrive from 2010, though the team joining the grid next year will be called 'Prodrive' before becoming Aston Martin in 2012. Prodrive is known best for its ties with Subaru during the golden age of Impreza domination of the World Rally Championship. It's also very familiar with Aston Martin Racing, having joined forces with the Gaydon maker for several Le Mans 24 Hour races.

It's not clear exactly who will supply engines for the new F1 car, but the team will have ties with McLaren, which means it could have access to Mercedes-Benz powerplants - the same currently found in this season's formidable Brawn GP car.

Mark Nichol - 29 May 2009