The American dream F1 team took another tantalising step forward this weekend with reports that the Ken Anderson/Peter Windsor project is looking to sign IndyCar driver Danica Patrick.

While Bernie Ecclestone might have made some odd comments about women (F1) drivers in the past, the F1 supremo will be fully aware of the appeal Patrick would surely bring to the sport. This, combined with the fact that USF1 aims to be an all-American outfit would go some way towards putting the USA back on the F1 map - having been removed from it in the first place by the Englishman, with a little help from Tony George.

Speaking at the weekend, Anderson admitted that Patrick is one of several drivers being considered for when the team makes its proposed F1 debut next season. However, he revealed that at this time he is unsure whether Patrick is even considering a switch to F1.

More will hopefully be revealed next week when the USF1 project, which will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is officially unveiled.

Other drivers being linked with the team are Conor Daly, son of former F1 driver Derek Daly, and Josef Newgarden.

The team is said to be close to securing a deal for a European base within Joan Villadelprat's Epsilon Euskadi's Le Mans team headquarters in Azkoitia, northern Spain.