Audi to F1 now?
Discussion
Known quantity with very good staff and very good technical levels. A back marker team would likely need significant investment. I would prefer them, should they enter, to take a smaller team to the top, otherwise it will all be 'it's still Red Bull, just the money comes from somewhere else' and they won't get as much publicity as they could. Sauber might be an option as well.
Jimmm said:
AFAIK VAG do the below...
Audi - GT + Prototype + DTM + Formula E
Bentley - GT
Bugatti - None
Lamborghini - GT
Porsche - GT + Prototype
Seat - Touring Cars
Skoda - Rally
Volkswagen - Rally
Maybe a Bugatti F1 team is a possibility?
From what Mercedes have been saying about the marketing costs/benefits of winning the championship last year there doesn’t seem much point spending all that money on a niche brand like Bugatti that will likely sell everything it could make anyway. Likewise it’s a lot of spend to foist onto Skoda or Seat given part of their USP is keeping the cost down vs VW or Audi so I think if VAG does F1 it would have to be with either VW or Audi. They could possibly justify it for Porsche if they are going to continue to expand/dilute (delete according to preference) that brand.Audi - GT + Prototype + DTM + Formula E
Bentley - GT
Bugatti - None
Lamborghini - GT
Porsche - GT + Prototype
Seat - Touring Cars
Skoda - Rally
Volkswagen - Rally
Maybe a Bugatti F1 team is a possibility?
Unless they go back to the idea of turning Seat into VAG’s Alfa Romeo which they suggested a few years back .....
Mark-C said:
From what Mercedes have been saying about the marketing costs/benefits of winning the championship last year there doesn’t seem much point spending all that money on a niche brand like Bugatti that will likely sell everything it could make anyway. Likewise it’s a lot of spend to foist onto Skoda or Seat given part of their USP is keeping the cost down vs VW or Audi so I think if VAG does F1 it would have to be with either VW or Audi. They could possibly justify it for Porsche if they are going to continue to expand/dilute (delete according to preference) that brand.
Unless they go back to the idea of turning Seat into VAG’s Alfa Romeo which they suggested a few years back .....
IF they do return, why does everyone seem to think it needs to be a particular brand?Unless they go back to the idea of turning Seat into VAG’s Alfa Romeo which they suggested a few years back .....
why not just VAG?
SEAT is the one brand in the Group that always seems to be 'on the line' with the board, sell more with more profit or else....
I think that VAG will buy Red Bull and Renaultsport F1, entering as Audi in 2017. I can't figure out what might happen to STR though, unless Mateschitz chooses to retain the team in its current guise in order to bring talent into F1. Essentially it'd be an Audi B team, but perhaps a JV with Red Bull. That way he keeps his hand in; he's still clearly an F1 fan.
Doink said:
Whilst that article is dated 8th May the comments on it were made 6 months ago! Something odd is going on!Audi can't demonstrate their technology in F1 - and the running/ governance is not in their interests.
There is only one reason for joining F1; media exposure. One F1 race weekend will give you more than a whole WEC season, Le Mans included. Harsh, but probably correct. Viewing figures and mainstream coverage is tiny compared to the behemoth that is F1.
Saying that, I just can't see them in F1.
Le Mans - Home of Quattro......
There is only one reason for joining F1; media exposure. One F1 race weekend will give you more than a whole WEC season, Le Mans included. Harsh, but probably correct. Viewing figures and mainstream coverage is tiny compared to the behemoth that is F1.
Saying that, I just can't see them in F1.
Le Mans - Home of Quattro......
I don't expect VW to enter F1 until the relationship between the FIA and the commercial rights holders is clarified. As it stands there is too much grey where the rules can be fundamentally changed at the drop of a hat and the benefit to a manufacturer can be thrown off course at relatively short notice. Look at how quickly Red Bull have gone from hot to not.
The investment levels required for a competitive F1 programme mean organisations such as VW should make sure they have an element of control in the sport before committing. Otherwise you end up like Honda, who are quickly building a reputation as incompetent, when the real issue has been with this pathetic token arrangement.
The investment levels required for a competitive F1 programme mean organisations such as VW should make sure they have an element of control in the sport before committing. Otherwise you end up like Honda, who are quickly building a reputation as incompetent, when the real issue has been with this pathetic token arrangement.
ArnageWRC said:
Audi can't demonstrate their technology in F1 - and the running/ governance is not in their interests.
There is only one reason for joining F1; media exposure. One F1 race weekend will give you more than a whole WEC season, Le Mans included. Harsh, but probably correct. Viewing figures and mainstream coverage is tiny compared to the behemoth that is F1.
Saying that, I just can't see them in F1.
Le Mans - Home of Quattro......
When I saw the posters with that last line on at Le Mans I was amazed Audi tried to claim that. The home of Quattro is many forests around Europe. Particularly so as they used that the first year the LMP1 was 4wd as far as I know. Mind you, it doesn't seem that many people were worried about it and it fits the current requirement for Audi, but it is just plain wrong to me.There is only one reason for joining F1; media exposure. One F1 race weekend will give you more than a whole WEC season, Le Mans included. Harsh, but probably correct. Viewing figures and mainstream coverage is tiny compared to the behemoth that is F1.
Saying that, I just can't see them in F1.
Le Mans - Home of Quattro......
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