[toreesi]

Something I've noticed with the recent speculation is that we're going to have several teams with strong links to a country next year, rather than the mix we've had up until now. This is now spreading to the drivers that team chooses.

Assuming the rumours so far are true:

McLaren - team GB, two British drivers, looking at building their own engine

Mercedes - state they want a German driver to win in a German team, two German drivers?

USF1 - name speaks for itself, wants US drivers long term

Lotus - Malaysian backed, with a long term aim of Malaysian drivers

Campos - ditto for Spanish/Latin, preference for a Spanish driver to partner Senna but finances may say otherwise

Force India - and again, but the search for an Indian driver isn't coming along too quickly

Renault - rumours that they're hoping to rebrand as a more French-orientated team and are looking for a French driver to partner Kubica

Red Bull - proud to be an Austrian team and (rightly) complained when the wrong anthem was played after Vettel's win in China

I just find it slightly odd that so many teams are making a big deal about their country of origin, maybe heading back to the early days of F1 with the Silver Arrows, Ferrari, a handful of British manufacturers. Up until now, in the UK particularly, no one has made a big deal about being a British team, people tend to follow the drivers.

With the notable exception of the tifosi in Italy, does anyone care about their 'national' team or do you follow them for other reasons?