What will happen to Prodrive
Discussion
Just read this report about Prodrive, if Prodrive can not get a team ready for next year will they incure costs for not taking part?. Also if they dont is this not a little unfair as there was a number of teams wanting to join F1 in 2008.
I hope they can get it together as I think Dave Richards needs another stab at F1 and I am sure he will be quicker than Honda :-).
I hope they can get it together as I think Dave Richards needs another stab at F1 and I am sure he will be quicker than Honda :-).
In the latest Motorsport interview with DR, there is a strong hint that Prodrive will use Mclaren chassis, Prodrive are a very highly regarded company in the automotive world, and DR is again highly regarded, maybe a junior Macmerc team using this years cars next year?
I doubt if Prodrive would have made the comitment if they couldn't meet it, not thier style.
Mark
I doubt if Prodrive would have made the comitment if they couldn't meet it, not thier style.
Mark
Unlike new teams from previous seasons they don't need to design and develop their own chassis if they are buying a McL-Merc so the only issue is sponsors I'd guess. As soon as they have signed and released money he can buy. If he takes on at least one experienced driver like Pedro de La Rosa (would be a no-brainer if it's a McLaren) and he has the choice if he leaves Williams of ex-McLaren tester Alex Wurz or as I'm led to believe Gary Paffett (current McLaren tester and paid Mercedes driver).
This report states that a couple of possible drivers have said "I don't know".
I thought that everyone in motorsport knew that drivers generally know nothing, and, if they do know, maybe their (potential) job is on the line if they talk.
How long before Super Aguri made their debut were they first talked about?
DR knows what he is doing, and he has plenty of time yet.
Pete
I thought that everyone in motorsport knew that drivers generally know nothing, and, if they do know, maybe their (potential) job is on the line if they talk.
How long before Super Aguri made their debut were they first talked about?
DR knows what he is doing, and he has plenty of time yet.
Pete
Prodrive will sell their F1 place to another team, or do a deal to run Torro Rosso / Spyker. From what I hear Mercedes want upto US $ 60 million for engines per year and Mclaren want some serious money for chassis, motorhomes, engineers, plus additional helps. DR may well be a grat engineer, but he is NOT a good sponsorship salesman and his new marketing director does NOT know sponsorship sales. I do not see Prodrive starting their own team, costs have risen hugely over the last two years and DR will not risk his Prodrive shares to run in F1 and go bust.
An F1 team requires over 300 people with 80-90 going to races. prodrive do not have that many employees and are not recruiting!
An F1 team requires over 300 people with 80-90 going to races. prodrive do not have that many employees and are not recruiting!
StuMartin said:
woof said:
ok - what have i missed - what year ban ?
Look closely into the smoke and mirrors woof. This post will self-destruct in five seconds 
A year ban for McLaren? Not even the FIA are that stupid.
A decision to ban one of the most visible teams would in itself bring the sport into disrepute. It would also damage F1's commercial prospects - and we know how often Max and Bernie let that happen.
The judges who will sit for the appeal will be selected from a pool. It appears that the members of this pool are proper legal professionals. This is no guarantee that they are straight, but it probably makes an honest decision more likely.
Dunit said:
Yes,
If they do impose a years ban what else can Ron do . They can hardly have their workforce take a years break. It would make sense for Prodrive to run the cars under their banner for the lenghth of the ban. As i said lets hope it does not come to that.
Thanks for the reply.If they do impose a years ban what else can Ron do . They can hardly have their workforce take a years break. It would make sense for Prodrive to run the cars under their banner for the lenghth of the ban. As i said lets hope it does not come to that.
As I say just above, I think that's unlikely, but then again, to take away full Constructors' points because one of your drivers stayed too long in the box during qualifying was not only unlikely, it was inconceivable. Until it happened.
woof said:
As mentioned previously - if Mclaren are guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute then Ferrari (if not more so) are guilty as well
It's a disgusting period in F1 - Ferrari are total disgrace and this latest episode sums up their last 15 years
HERE HERE...It's a disgusting period in F1 - Ferrari are total disgrace and this latest episode sums up their last 15 years
Look at the mass damper affair. Renault tech bods had worked out how to use it, a very simple and safe device to help the front end. Ferrari and another top flight team were trying to evaluate and test the very same thing but couldn't get it to work like the Renault team. So what do they do... force the FIA to ban it!!
belleair302 said:
From what I hear Mercedes want upto US $ 60 million for engines per year and Mclaren want some serious money for chassis, motorhomes, engineers, plus additional helps.
ermm how can i say this... bo
ocks!$60m is more likely the figure to run the entire team for a year, espcially when Cosworth, and Renault are only charging $16m for engines
belleair302 said:
An F1 team requires over 300 people with 80-90 going to races. prodrive do not have that many employees and are not recruiting!
Prodrive will 'only' need enough people for a race team - the 300 figure includes all the factory based engineers and production staff that are not needed if running a customer car surely?Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff