Christian Horner
Discussion
tele_lover said:
BunkMoreland said:
Biggles Flies Undone said:
...There is a massive conflict of interest here, but you can't ban Susie from doing her job just because of who she is married to...
Ironic that she's only had the jobs she has had cause she married her husband. 
No place being a F1 test driver for the team her Husband part owned (she has a poor racing record*)
No place being in charge running F1 Academy. (for the exact same reasons)
Susie Stoddart wasn't about to get those roles!
* No wins, no poles, no fastest laps in any race car. (FR UKF3 or DTM) She's the absolute definition of promoted beyond her abilities due to friends in high places. And lets not forget the 2017 MBE for "services to Women in Sport."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susie_Wolff#Racing_r...
Latest rumour is he is looking to head up a BYD Team.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095700/1/christian-...
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095700/1/christian-...
Sixpackpert said:
Latest rumour is he is looking to head up a BYD Team.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095700/1/christian-...
That reminds me...https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095700/1/christian-...
An Inuk takes his car to the mechanic. He leaves for an hour so the mechanic can diagnose the problem.
When the Inuk returns, the mechanic tells him "It looks like you blew a seal" to which the Inuk quickly replies "No, that's just frost on my moustache."
Sixpackpert said:
Latest rumour is he is looking to head up a BYD Team.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095700/1/christian-...
The sport is keen to have a Chinese team and car culture in China right now is exploding, I expect we will get a Chinese team very soon.https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095700/1/christian-...
As for Horner... This latest rumour actually makes some sense I think. He's known to be a fantastic brand ambassador and to generate endless controversy that gets the brand ever more press. As a start up team, he could have his slice of equity, probably not much but enough to motivate him.
Although my greatest curiosity is where the team factory would be... Because whilst the Chinese are fantastic at bleeding edge manufacturing tech, so far as I'm aware the talent base over there to staff an F1 team is approximately chuff all.
A BYD Formula E team seems plausible, that fits with what the company is focussing on with their regular business.
I’m not sure BYD has any idea of the size of the financial commitment required to start up an F1 from scratch, IIRC the Andretti team had a couple of billion dollars spent before the cars turned up for the first testing session, although that does include their ongoing engine development programme.
They’re an interesting company from a business perspective, have increased dramatically in size in the last few years, but it’s all very leveraged debt for capital expenditure and a downturn could hit them very hard. Warren Buffet cashed out at the end of last year.
I’m not sure BYD has any idea of the size of the financial commitment required to start up an F1 from scratch, IIRC the Andretti team had a couple of billion dollars spent before the cars turned up for the first testing session, although that does include their ongoing engine development programme.
They’re an interesting company from a business perspective, have increased dramatically in size in the last few years, but it’s all very leveraged debt for capital expenditure and a downturn could hit them very hard. Warren Buffet cashed out at the end of last year.
Sandpit Steve said:
A BYD Formula E team seems plausible, that fits with what the company is focussing on with their regular business.
I m not sure BYD has any idea of the size of the financial commitment required to start up an F1 from scratch, IIRC the Andretti team had a couple of billion dollars spent before the cars turned up for the first testing session, although that does include their ongoing engine development programme.
They re an interesting company from a business perspective, have increased dramatically in size in the last few years, but it s all very leveraged debt for capital expenditure and a downturn could hit them very hard. Warren Buffet cashed out at the end of last year.
I'm sure that if they're even loosely considering entering F1 they'd have the exercise costed day one for further deliberation.I m not sure BYD has any idea of the size of the financial commitment required to start up an F1 from scratch, IIRC the Andretti team had a couple of billion dollars spent before the cars turned up for the first testing session, although that does include their ongoing engine development programme.
They re an interesting company from a business perspective, have increased dramatically in size in the last few years, but it s all very leveraged debt for capital expenditure and a downturn could hit them very hard. Warren Buffet cashed out at the end of last year.
Also, F1 is effectively free self sustaining global marketing once the initial investment is dealt with. If it's not BYD, it'll be another Chinese car firm that fills that grid slot.
Interesting thought about whether FE would suit their business more... It would of course, if we assume the value is direct relevance to their product. But I think these days it's often more about simple brand recognition. See Red Bull and Haas for details.
suffolk009 said:
BYD with Horner on the pit wall - far from being my favourite option.
I've had my fingers crossed that Geely would be interested in F1 (preferably without Horner), and they'd choose Lotus as the brand to do it.
That would be my dream.
Instant problem with brand potential there. Lotus would of course benefit from being an F1 team namesake, but they can't leverage that benefit in terms of unit sales that a manufacturer like BYD could - because the cars are too niche. I've had my fingers crossed that Geely would be interested in F1 (preferably without Horner), and they'd choose Lotus as the brand to do it.
That would be my dream.
Obviously Ferrari and McLaren have teams inspite of that. But they had those teams a long time ago and when the economics of F1 were entirely different to today.
Modern F1, it's for the giant global brands. Arguably more likely to see a McDonald's team than a Lotus return.
I recall reading that Gene Haas found the brand recognition was too good in F1, more people now associate the Haas name with F1 rather than machine tools.
When someone mentions Red Bull I think motorsport, and rarely think of the drink.
Regards China, I can see promoters might like the idea but I'm not sure the sport needs a Chinese entry
When someone mentions Red Bull I think motorsport, and rarely think of the drink.
Regards China, I can see promoters might like the idea but I'm not sure the sport needs a Chinese entry
C Lee Farquar said:
I recall reading that Gene Haas found the brand recognition was too good in F1, more people now associate the Haas name with F1 rather than machine tools.
When someone mentions Red Bull I think motorsport, and rarely think of the drink.
Regards China, I can see promoters might like the idea but I'm not sure the sport needs a Chinese entry
If it gets a billion people in China watching a Chinese driver in a (nominally) Chinese car, then I expect the sponsors of the other teams will be enormous fans of the idea. When someone mentions Red Bull I think motorsport, and rarely think of the drink.
Regards China, I can see promoters might like the idea but I'm not sure the sport needs a Chinese entry
TheDeuce said:
suffolk009 said:
BYD with Horner on the pit wall - far from being my favourite option.
I've had my fingers crossed that Geely would be interested in F1 (preferably without Horner), and they'd choose Lotus as the brand to do it.
That would be my dream.
Instant problem with brand potential there. Lotus would of course benefit from being an F1 team namesake, but they can't leverage that benefit in terms of unit sales that a manufacturer like BYD could - because the cars are too niche. I've had my fingers crossed that Geely would be interested in F1 (preferably without Horner), and they'd choose Lotus as the brand to do it.
That would be my dream.
Obviously Ferrari and McLaren have teams inspite of that. But they had those teams a long time ago and when the economics of F1 were entirely different to today.
Modern F1, it's for the giant global brands. Arguably more likely to see a McDonald's team than a Lotus return.
It doesn't stop me building my dream.
TheDeuce said:
The sport is keen to have a Chinese team and car culture in China right now is exploding, I expect we will get a Chinese team very soon.
As for Horner... This latest rumour actually makes some sense I think. He's known to be a fantastic brand ambassador and to generate endless controversy that gets the brand ever more press. As a start up team, he could have his slice of equity, probably not much but enough to motivate him.
Although my greatest curiosity is where the team factory would be... Because whilst the Chinese are fantastic at bleeding edge manufacturing tech, so far as I'm aware the talent base over there to staff an F1 team is approximately chuff all.
Enstone....As for Horner... This latest rumour actually makes some sense I think. He's known to be a fantastic brand ambassador and to generate endless controversy that gets the brand ever more press. As a start up team, he could have his slice of equity, probably not much but enough to motivate him.
Although my greatest curiosity is where the team factory would be... Because whilst the Chinese are fantastic at bleeding edge manufacturing tech, so far as I'm aware the talent base over there to staff an F1 team is approximately chuff all.
DanielSan said:
TheDeuce said:
The sport is keen to have a Chinese team and car culture in China right now is exploding, I expect we will get a Chinese team very soon.
As for Horner... This latest rumour actually makes some sense I think. He's known to be a fantastic brand ambassador and to generate endless controversy that gets the brand ever more press. As a start up team, he could have his slice of equity, probably not much but enough to motivate him.
Although my greatest curiosity is where the team factory would be... Because whilst the Chinese are fantastic at bleeding edge manufacturing tech, so far as I'm aware the talent base over there to staff an F1 team is approximately chuff all.
Enstone....As for Horner... This latest rumour actually makes some sense I think. He's known to be a fantastic brand ambassador and to generate endless controversy that gets the brand ever more press. As a start up team, he could have his slice of equity, probably not much but enough to motivate him.
Although my greatest curiosity is where the team factory would be... Because whilst the Chinese are fantastic at bleeding edge manufacturing tech, so far as I'm aware the talent base over there to staff an F1 team is approximately chuff all.
If Horny were to spearhead a Chinese entry, there can be little doubt he'd be sensible enough to base it in the UK. Enstone...
In many ways Horny getting the gig is the greatest unknown now. I can see it happening but it's not done until it's done. But to an even greater extent I can definitely see a Chinese team - MBS has publicly, deliberately, welcomed the idea and as the planets new chief car manufacturer, of course they want an F1 team.
Although, it may yet prove that BYD are not the only interested party!
In many ways Horny getting the gig is the greatest unknown now. I can see it happening but it's not done until it's done. But to an even greater extent I can definitely see a Chinese team - MBS has publicly, deliberately, welcomed the idea and as the planets new chief car manufacturer, of course they want an F1 team.
Although, it may yet prove that BYD are not the only interested party!
marine boy said:
AI autonomous, dark F1 parts manufacturing factory in China
Just imagine how much extra they'll have to spend on catering
You know it's coming...Just imagine how much extra they'll have to spend on catering
Although the factory will be neither dark, or in China. It'll be an F1 factory filled with mostly western people, in the UK. Like the other ones that want to win occasionally.
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