Team US F1 shuts down operation
Discussion
Team US F1's Formula 1 hopes appeared to be over on Tuesday, with high level sources revealing to AUTOSPORT that the outfit has now effectively closed down.
Against the backdrop of weeks of uncertainty about the future of the American team, which had been struggling to get a car ready for the start of the season, sources have revealed team personnel have now been informed they are no longer required as the operation could not continue in its present guise.
AUTOSPORT understands that shortly before lunchtime, production manager Dave Skog informed those staff who had remained at the team during its recent troubles that they were being put on unpaid leave - even though they remain technically employed.
That move, which has not yet been officially confirmed, effectively brings an end to the F1 dreams of team principal Ken Anderson and sporting director Peter Windsor who had hoped to create a genuine American grand prix team unless a fresh cash injection can be found.
It is understood that neither Anderson nor Windsor were present at the factory while the announcement was made, and neither was available for comment about the latest situation.
Calls to the factory switchboard have also gone unanswered, with a message stating that the number is temporarily not working.
The failure of Team US F1 to make it onto the grid means that there is now a vacancy for the Serbian outfit Stefan Grand Prix, which has been sitting on the sidelines for several months.
US F1 will need to be officially withdrawn from the championship if Stefan GP is going to have a chance of getting a late entry - although such a situation may be possible if FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting's inspection visit to the American team's factory last week showed that the outfit was not capable of competing.
It is also not clear what US F1 investor Chad Hurley will now do. The American YouTube co-founder, who had invested in the team, has been linked with potential deals with both Stefan GP and Campos Meta in recent weeks - and it is possible he may choose to remain in F1 through involvement with another team.
Ref autosport
Against the backdrop of weeks of uncertainty about the future of the American team, which had been struggling to get a car ready for the start of the season, sources have revealed team personnel have now been informed they are no longer required as the operation could not continue in its present guise.
AUTOSPORT understands that shortly before lunchtime, production manager Dave Skog informed those staff who had remained at the team during its recent troubles that they were being put on unpaid leave - even though they remain technically employed.
That move, which has not yet been officially confirmed, effectively brings an end to the F1 dreams of team principal Ken Anderson and sporting director Peter Windsor who had hoped to create a genuine American grand prix team unless a fresh cash injection can be found.
It is understood that neither Anderson nor Windsor were present at the factory while the announcement was made, and neither was available for comment about the latest situation.
Calls to the factory switchboard have also gone unanswered, with a message stating that the number is temporarily not working.
The failure of Team US F1 to make it onto the grid means that there is now a vacancy for the Serbian outfit Stefan Grand Prix, which has been sitting on the sidelines for several months.
US F1 will need to be officially withdrawn from the championship if Stefan GP is going to have a chance of getting a late entry - although such a situation may be possible if FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting's inspection visit to the American team's factory last week showed that the outfit was not capable of competing.
It is also not clear what US F1 investor Chad Hurley will now do. The American YouTube co-founder, who had invested in the team, has been linked with potential deals with both Stefan GP and Campos Meta in recent weeks - and it is possible he may choose to remain in F1 through involvement with another team.
Ref autosport
So will they open up the slot on the grid and make good their promise to have a full grid encouraging newcomers, or will they now hide behind some pathetic rule having lost face by again backing a donkey organisation.
You'd have thought that with the efforts and money involved in even convincing the powers that they should have a grid slot, the company should have been able to demonstrate their ability to put the words into action.
Im not bothered if its Stefan or one of the other hopefuls - but at least Stefan seem to have the gear ready to roll - makes sense to give them a chance (considering theyve now messed around long enough for no-one else to have an opportunity to take part in the pre-season practice sessions
)
You'd have thought that with the efforts and money involved in even convincing the powers that they should have a grid slot, the company should have been able to demonstrate their ability to put the words into action.
Im not bothered if its Stefan or one of the other hopefuls - but at least Stefan seem to have the gear ready to roll - makes sense to give them a chance (considering theyve now messed around long enough for no-one else to have an opportunity to take part in the pre-season practice sessions
) Unfortunately for USF1, they signed-up to Formula €50million and the financial goalposts were moved considerably by FOTA. They had 60 employees to Ferrari’s 500, or so.
IMHO the new teams only purpose will be to make Force India and Torro Rossa look much more impressive and increase the number of blue-flag overtaking opportunities.
Customer cars would have been a far more sensible way to go.
IMHO the new teams only purpose will be to make Force India and Torro Rossa look much more impressive and increase the number of blue-flag overtaking opportunities.
Customer cars would have been a far more sensible way to go.
groomi said:
Anderson and Windsor really seem to have come out of this as a disgraceful pair of dreamers. Not even having the courage to stand and tell their own employees the truth at the very death.
Disgraceful.
I agree.Disgraceful.
I always thought from Windsor's column on the ITV-F1 website in previous years that he came across as a bit of a tosser.
Now it seems that his pipedream is over aswell. Can't say I'm surprised.
Have they actually clsoed and now cease to be. According to this http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_599992... they have asked for a deferral for a year.
I think it's egg on the face of the FIA for not following a rigorous selection procedure when they awarded the new spaces.
I think it's egg on the face of the FIA for not following a rigorous selection procedure when they awarded the new spaces.
rdjohn said:
Unfortunately for USF1, they signed-up to Formula €50million and the financial goalposts were moved considerably by FOTA. They had 60 employees to Ferrari’s 500, or so.
.
Nothing to do with it..
USF1 failed because they couldn't build a car in time, due to an over complex design, poor production management and maybe a lack of cash.
As Branson keeps banging on about, he is doing F1 for around £40 million, and has at least managed to produce a car.
While I would agree the unceratinty around F1 last year would not help get sponsors, it would not stop them getting on with the job of building the car. And from what has come put, with some youtube money, another sponsor ready to give $10 million plus paid drivers, they would have had enough to make the grid. No something more was wrong here, Windsor from his statements in the press seems to have been in another world for the last 12 months. Anderson seems to be singled out as the man at fault, don't know if that is correct but seems to be what various sources are saying.
The FIA did also have pretty good checks in place, they used accountants to check the plans etc. What this shows is how hard it is to get an F1 team going and only Virgin with Nick Worth, who has done it before, and Lotus with Mike the bulldog at the helm, both with bucket loads of F1 experience have managed to do it.
It shows that the old scheme of having to put up say $10 million upfront which you get back after over the season might not have been such a silly idea. Yes it would stop some small teams joining in, but it would also help avoid this situation.
revrange said:
rdjohn said:
Unfortunately for USF1, they signed-up to Formula €50million and the financial goalposts were moved considerably by FOTA. They had 60 employees to Ferrari’s 500, or so.
.
Nothing to do with it..
USF1 failed because they couldn't build a car in time, due to an over complex design, poor production management and maybe a lack of cash.
As Branson keeps banging on about, he is doing F1 for around £40 million, and has at least managed to produce a car.
While I would agree the unceratinty around F1 last year would not help get sponsors, it would not stop them getting on with the job of building the car. And from what has come put, with some youtube money, another sponsor ready to give $10 million plus paid drivers, they would have had enough to make the grid. No something more was wrong here, Windsor from his statements in the press seems to have been in another world for the last 12 months. Anderson seems to be singled out as the man at fault, don't know if that is correct but seems to be what various sources are saying.
The FIA did also have pretty good checks in place, they used accountants to check the plans etc. What this shows is how hard it is to get an F1 team going and only Virgin with Nick Worth, who has done it before, and Lotus with Mike the bulldog at the helm, both with bucket loads of F1 experience have managed to do it.
It shows that the old scheme of having to put up say $10 million upfront which you get back after over the season might not have been such a silly idea. Yes it would stop some small teams joining in, but it would also help avoid this situation.
I expected them to look silly- the utter derision they had for formula 1 when they first came on the scene "yeah most formula 1 technology is american anyway, yee-har!" could only lead to failure, but I thought they'd at least manage to get a car together to give us all a laugh. Guess anderson & co had trouble buying all that "american F1 technology" down what passes for halfords stateside then?
Edited by hairyben on Wednesday 3rd March 11:06
revrange said:
It shows that the old scheme of having to put up say $10 million upfront which you get back after over the season might not have been such a silly idea. Yes it would stop some small teams joining in, but it would also help avoid this situation.
I disagree. F1 should not be an exclusive club. There should be opportunities for new teams, much like there was in the late 80's early 90's. Jordan, for example came about due to this. Dont cap the number of entries, bring in pre qualifying of you have to, then it will be survival of the fittest. Also, perhaps allow customer cars, but only for 1 driver teams, without constructor points.
I think its been rather sad only having 20 cars on the grid of late, and I do hope the FIA let Stefan GP in so we can at least have a full grid. After all more cars = more action = more interest as far as i'm concerned.
revrange said:
rdjohn said:
Unfortunately for USF1, they signed-up to Formula €50million and the financial goalposts were moved considerably by FOTA. They had 60 employees to Ferrari’s 500, or so.
.
Nothing to do with it..
USF1 failed because they couldn't build a car in time, due to an over complex design, poor production management and maybe a lack of cash.
As Branson keeps banging on about, he is doing F1 for around £40 million, and has at least managed to produce a car.
While I would agree the unceratinty around F1 last year would not help get sponsors, it would not stop them getting on with the job of building the car. And from what has come put, with some youtube money, another sponsor ready to give $10 million plus paid drivers, they would have had enough to make the grid. No something more was wrong here, Windsor from his statements in the press seems to have been in another world for the last 12 months. Anderson seems to be singled out as the man at fault, don't know if that is correct but seems to be what various sources are saying.
The FIA did also have pretty good checks in place, they used accountants to check the plans etc. What this shows is how hard it is to get an F1 team going and only Virgin with Nick Worth, who has done it before, and Lotus with Mike the bulldog at the helm, both with bucket loads of F1 experience have managed to do it.
It shows that the old scheme of having to put up say $10 million upfront which you get back after over the season might not have been such a silly idea. Yes it would stop some small teams joining in, but it would also help avoid this situation.
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