Baku - Azerbaijan's sport minister says he wants a Formula One team to be run under the national flag, adding the government will support any companies interested in the project.
Oil-rich Azerbaijan will host its first grand prix next year on a street circuit in the capital, Baku, but has almost no history of participating in motor sport...either with teams or drivers.
Sport Minister Azad Rahimov said the government would be "very interested" in seeing an Azerbaijan-flagged team compete, or one of the existing teams running with Azerbaijani sponsorship.
The idea was not government policy and would depend on businesses becoming involved, he said, but added "we will be totally supporting" any private investment.