Super Aguri have pulled out of the 2008 season
Discussion
Yup, press release here:
http://www.forumula1.net/2008/f1/f1-news/stop-pres...
Crying shame, fingers crossed Davidson can get a drive next season.
http://www.forumula1.net/2008/f1/f1-news/stop-pres...
Crying shame, fingers crossed Davidson can get a drive next season.
Bad news indeed, but I can't see that Honda can take all the blame for this.
Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
I think that this is a big red flag for the whole of F1.
The Prodrive bid not happening, the Mosley problem and Super Aguri folding coupled with the economic situation would point to F1 being in a little bit of bother. It is also very worrying that Torro Rosso again will not be fielding the new car this weekend, surely it doesn't take that long to rebuild a crashed tub? Or have they not been paying some bills as well?
When does the three car team 'agreement' kick in?
Looking at the way its going, with the higher costs involved with all the teams having to build new chassis for next year and possibly KERS costs as well, I can't see anyone else wanting to join the party under the current financial climate, so it might be the only way to keep up big grids.
The Prodrive bid not happening, the Mosley problem and Super Aguri folding coupled with the economic situation would point to F1 being in a little bit of bother. It is also very worrying that Torro Rosso again will not be fielding the new car this weekend, surely it doesn't take that long to rebuild a crashed tub? Or have they not been paying some bills as well?
When does the three car team 'agreement' kick in?
Looking at the way its going, with the higher costs involved with all the teams having to build new chassis for next year and possibly KERS costs as well, I can't see anyone else wanting to join the party under the current financial climate, so it might be the only way to keep up big grids.
Does the 3 car agreement still apply?
Super Aguri appears to have had 2 problems, the first being a sponsor who hasn't paid up and secondly the arbitration under the Concorde Agreement about customer cars. Customer cars now appear dead in the water so teams that have relied on using anither tems cars have a problem.
The Concorde Agreement is of course a great unknown and people seem to be divided as to whether it is in effect, if its not presumably there is no need to run 3 car teams?
Super Aguri appears to have had 2 problems, the first being a sponsor who hasn't paid up and secondly the arbitration under the Concorde Agreement about customer cars. Customer cars now appear dead in the water so teams that have relied on using anither tems cars have a problem.
The Concorde Agreement is of course a great unknown and people seem to be divided as to whether it is in effect, if its not presumably there is no need to run 3 car teams?
The Hypno-Toad said:
I think that this is a big red flag for the whole of F1.
The Prodrive bid not happening, the Mosley problem and Super Aguri folding coupled with the economic situation would point to F1 being in a little bit of bother. It is also very worrying that Torro Rosso again will not be fielding the new car this weekend, surely it doesn't take that long to rebuild a crashed tub? Or have they not been paying some bills as well?
When does the three car team 'agreement' kick in?
Looking at the way its going, with the higher costs involved with all the teams having to build new chassis for next year and possibly KERS costs as well, I can't see anyone else wanting to join the party under the current financial climate, so it might be the only way to keep up big grids.
Agree with the first part - if a company of the calibre of Prodrive can't enter and a huge effort (notwithstanding manufacturer support) that was Super Aguri fails, there is something very wrong. If the world economy does take a dip then expect a few manufacturers to fall by the wayside. If Renault lose Alonso and don't get back on track they won't last long for starters.The Prodrive bid not happening, the Mosley problem and Super Aguri folding coupled with the economic situation would point to F1 being in a little bit of bother. It is also very worrying that Torro Rosso again will not be fielding the new car this weekend, surely it doesn't take that long to rebuild a crashed tub? Or have they not been paying some bills as well?
When does the three car team 'agreement' kick in?
Looking at the way its going, with the higher costs involved with all the teams having to build new chassis for next year and possibly KERS costs as well, I can't see anyone else wanting to join the party under the current financial climate, so it might be the only way to keep up big grids.
On the other hand F1 needs to press on with improving its green credentials - this is the long term battle for the sport and it becomes clearer by the day.
So above all what we need is an FIA president that has his full focus on the challenges rather than legal battles with national newspapers.
kevin ritson said:
The Hypno-Toad said:
I think that this is a big red flag for the whole of F1.
The Prodrive bid not happening, the Mosley problem and Super Aguri folding coupled with the economic situation would point to F1 being in a little bit of bother. It is also very worrying that Torro Rosso again will not be fielding the new car this weekend, surely it doesn't take that long to rebuild a crashed tub? Or have they not been paying some bills as well?
When does the three car team 'agreement' kick in?
Looking at the way its going, with the higher costs involved with all the teams having to build new chassis for next year and possibly KERS costs as well, I can't see anyone else wanting to join the party under the current financial climate, so it might be the only way to keep up big grids.
Agree with the first part - if a company of the calibre of Prodrive can't enter and a huge effort (notwithstanding manufacturer support) that was Super Aguri fails, there is something very wrong. If the world economy does take a dip then expect a few manufacturers to fall by the wayside. If Renault lose Alonso and don't get back on track they won't last long for starters.The Prodrive bid not happening, the Mosley problem and Super Aguri folding coupled with the economic situation would point to F1 being in a little bit of bother. It is also very worrying that Torro Rosso again will not be fielding the new car this weekend, surely it doesn't take that long to rebuild a crashed tub? Or have they not been paying some bills as well?
When does the three car team 'agreement' kick in?
Looking at the way its going, with the higher costs involved with all the teams having to build new chassis for next year and possibly KERS costs as well, I can't see anyone else wanting to join the party under the current financial climate, so it might be the only way to keep up big grids.
On the other hand F1 needs to press on with improving its green credentials - this is the long term battle for the sport and it becomes clearer by the day.
So above all what we need is an FIA president that has his full focus on the challenges rather than legal battles with national newspapers.
So maybe then we'll left with a championship of just Ferrari chassis..........hang on!
woof said:
as per my previous comment on the other - bad news for everyone
Don't they also loose a fairly sizable deposit/bond ?
The US$40m (IIRC) bond was certainly going to be dropped from 2009 to encourage, ironically, customer cars. I am pretty sure I recall Williams and Jordan citing this as one of the reasons for their objection too. Don't they also loose a fairly sizable deposit/bond ?
I think I've said before on this forum - where was the real value in Aguri, or for that matter in STR? Neither has state of the art manufacturing facilities, although I am sure that a lot can be contracted out...but I guess they have to construct the "chassis" internally?
Incidentally, I can't say too much, but I think we might see someone "new" on the grid soon - a driver, rather than a team, clearly....he had a seat fitting last week, so I hear....of course, that might just be a fitting for a test car, but since he is already a tester for said team, it would seem a bit odd....anyone care to hazard a guess (not that I'd confirm it of course)...
What a crying shame for F1, this was a spirited and sucessful(relatively) team with fantastic potential. I really hope one of the bigger teams picks Sato up he has a flair and finesse about his driving that is lacking in so many in F1. Its a sad day for F1 as we lose yet another team, how many Minardi's, Jordan's, Arrows must we lose before the powers that be realise F1 is becoming impossible to be a privateer in (even with manufacturer backing) and make necessary changes. It wont be a great sport with teams of corporate giants racing each other and whoever is willing to part with most cash can buy their way to victory.
There has been speculation on another thread that DC will retire after Silverstone. Incidentially if a driver is already a tester for a team why would he need a fitting for a race seat, don't they use the same seat for testing and racing?
On the matter of Super Aguri its a shame to see them go, and just shows what a struggle it is at the bottom end of the grid. From McLarens point of view it probably increases the amount of paddock space at that end of the pitlane for their "motorhome".
On the matter of Super Aguri its a shame to see them go, and just shows what a struggle it is at the bottom end of the grid. From McLarens point of view it probably increases the amount of paddock space at that end of the pitlane for their "motorhome".
DC going - really ?
can't see him being replaced by Sébastien Buemi ! Hardly any experience - and not that great
I think Liuzzi is looking to bump Sutil out of a race seat at Force India
and equally over at Williams Hulkenberg must be hopeful of a race over Nakajima (though Nakajima is doing a reasonable job)
My money is on Liuzzi
Miss Pitstop said:
Bad news indeed, but I can't see that Honda can take all the blame for this.
Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
......the beginings of the Ross Brawn effect.Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
stockhatcher said:
Miss Pitstop said:
Bad news indeed, but I can't see that Honda can take all the blame for this.
Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
......the beginings of the Ross Brawn effect.Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
npope said:
stockhatcher said:
Miss Pitstop said:
Bad news indeed, but I can't see that Honda can take all the blame for this.
Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
......the beginings of the Ross Brawn effect.Aguri knew he had to become financially self sufficient and failed to do so. SA "owe" Honda a fair few £££ and they can't bankroll him forever. It's a real shame but in business you do have to make harsh decisions and say enough is enough.
I would imagine someone will pick up the team now at a (relative) bargain price. I do feel for both drivers though.
i suspect a word in the shell like of nick fry, and honda bosses has speeded up super aguris exit.
from ross's perspective... this would be a good thing.
hth
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