Another classic Windsorism..... "We had decided that if we were going to be based in Charlotte, in the heart of Nascar country, then obviously we would have to play to the fans, as Nascar does. We would make our factory fan friendly, with easy access to the public, and, with a television production facility in the factory, we would enable Formula One fans to follow the progress of the car from conception to completion." we're waiting Pete!
"Our European base would therefore be chosen as much for its location as for its excellent facilities. We want it to be the sort of place that our sponsors, fans and investors want to visit, something different than the standard, murky building on an English industrial estate." WTF? Anyone seen the buildings that Williams, McLaren, and Brawn are in??
Right. The new McLaren facility is so clinically clean that you could do open heart surgery in the workshop. They even won an architectural award. Did he really say that? Whoa! That's the exact opposite of what they're doing. Heck, the iron curtain gave us a better insight into Soviet life than what's going on in that ominous hall at Charlotte. Glasnost please.
OR....trying to publicly distance himself from a project he knows will fail?? I'm sure that the face-saving portion of this little venture will equal or exceed the bullsh** phase in both depth and length. He's done it before.
Pardon my ignorance, but what was Windsor's last so-called failed or aborted project called, and what was the timeframe and circumstances? Thanks
Ummm I am confused tifosi12... Manor is credible because they are "probably" doing CFD work and they have Virgin backing them? What the hell do you think that blue thing is on the USF1 page? I am so surprised no one here has caught it yet, you do know that is a CFD model right? The teaser shot is the actual car in virtual form. They have shown more than any other team so far. If you look at other forums that have all mentioned how it is a CFD model because someone with REAL experience pointed it out. Oh and dont forgot that Chad Hurley is a billionaire too, just like Richard Branson What is your Campos arguement again? or was there one? that they announced drivers? get your facts straight, there are no confirmed drivers AT ALL from that team or ANY of the new teams. They just throw around names of Latin drivers but I dont see anyone making any statement except for that its all just talk. Also I find it funny that you think a driver announcement makes a team the "real deal", forget that silly car you have to build, just announce some drivers and they rest will come. I personally think you should build something for them to drive first but I am not an expert like you. look just admit you have a problem with the US having an F1 team. Its ok we already know you do. Just come clean about it. Im sorry you have such hard feelings about Peter Windsor, were you guys close once? or do you like to freak out and hate people because you dont like how they interview or the fact that they have attempted to start an F1 team in the past and it didnt work out. I feel bad if you have children and you teach them that a failed attempt makes you an idoit. For their sake I hope they set their goals nice and low. By the way wasnt Benoit the same one that changed his tune about USF1 once before? How much you want to bet he will change it again within about a week? Also I want to apologize for being a Ferrari Chat rookie, Im sorry that I cant spend every waking moment on here and watch my posts number go up. I dont understand why you attack me when I post my opinion on here, oh wait thats right, its because its different from yours. Look if I am out of line and everyone agrees with you tifosi12 then by all means I should just leave and stop posting. So if that is the general feeling then please feel free to post it, I wont get hurt (not that you care) but that would let me know that I am wasting my time and my opinion is not welcome on this forum like the rest of yours.
The point is that these people are not consistent in their comments, saying all the gushing things is one thing but they aren't giving what they say they would. there are plenty of ways to research the backgrounds of the people so far named as principles with USF1, do it then come back to us. Manor/Virgin are comprised of well experienced people, Wirth has done a lot of current development for many of the teams in F1 as well as leading sports car teams, he had a successful if underfinanced car before in F1 so understands the infrastructure. FWIW, most all on here are willing to give a profile, anonymous posters are going to get a little less respect normally.
Beware the personal attacks. Debate and disagree with the content of the post all you want, but going after the person violates the TOS.
It must be a massive undertaking to get a project like this moving especially in these times. Hopefully with cost controls, limits on testing, and Max/Bernie kicking in some support funds the USF1 team will come to fruition and be competitive.
Seriously Carol - that was lame. I don't know any of you in person, and you're probably a blast to hang out with; but it seems that anytime someone posts an opinion lately, the insults fly. For whatever reason Andreas always has to get the last posting in until the other side gives up. Btw - the Suzuka race was a snoozefest and the ALMS is not F1. How do you like those apples???? Kevin
Here is what someone from North Carolina posted on the USF1 facebook page; 'Quite a few vehicles at their temporary HQs / fab shop the past few months ... I'm pretty sure they're not making pizzas or something in their 3 autoclaves. (They're "cooking" carbon fiber!)' 'Car is almost ready to hit the ground - minus the Cosworth engine '
I know you're upset because you feel that some people are crapping on the USA's first F1 effort in many years, but I am totally in agreement with Andreas, and here's why... The picture on US F1's site is a rendering. It may be an actual model of the car, or it may just be a concept, I don't know. It is not true that they are showing more than any other team - the 2010 cars are mostly the same as the 09 cars, so with the exception of the new teams, all the teams have actual running cars that will be modified for next year. A driver announcement matters because it's an actual contract. It means real money was spent and the team is on the hook to pay. All this stuff about making CFD models and such may or may not be legitimate, but a signed driver contract can't be smoke and mirrors. Some of the other announced teams a) are actual existant teams that currently make cars for racing, and b) haven't been poopoo'ed even by the head honcho of F1 - Bernie, which makes them much more credible, IMO. I don't think anyone has a problem with the USA having an F1 team. We're mostly Americans here, right? I would be proud to have a great team from the USA. Windsor is British. I think a lot of us (at least I do) feel that Windsor is not so much trying to make a great team that the USA can be proud of, but rather line his own pockets by tapping into the great heretofore untapped USA market. A USA team owned by a Briton operated out of their factory in Europe with a design center in the USA? Riiiight. Furthermore, the LAST thing I want is for the USA name to be bandied about in an embarassment of a car. We have the technology and cash to dominate anything we choose to do , so I would hate to see the US F1 team (which is supposed to look like the USA national entry) getting lapped and running at the back and being the laughing stock of the sport. And make no mistake, there are plenty of folks in the pit lane and around the world who are waiting with baited breath for US F1 to fail spectacularly. If MS had moved to the USA and hired Todt as team manager and were going to be getting 100% US sponsorship and US Parts and were going to run in F1, I'd be ecstatic. Windsor looking to cash in on the untapped USA market? I'm not enthusiastic. At all. I don't agree with your post at all, I think you are completely wrong. But I don't think you should stop posting here even if everyone does disagree with you. I am sure Andreas would not want you to stop posting either. I think you should feel free to call anyone out on their posts and post your opinions that are reasoned and well argued. So, I think you're totally wrong, but I hope you continue to post and participate... but don't tell us guys with a lot of posts we have nothing better to do Some of us just love the site.
Mike; nice response; personally I get the feeling from alot of the other posts are that people want USF1 not to happen, or fail, so they can say 'I told you so'.... All of us keyboard jockeys; f-car owners, etc who love this site; have no clue about the difficulty in starting an F1 team. I hope Windsor pulls it off and makes millions....I'm envious of what he's trying to do and can't wait to support them... Kevin
In the best of times starting an F1 team is long odds proposition, in today's economic climate even more so. IMO it is because US fans want an American team in F1 so badly that we're skeptical. The fact that the skepticism is sometimes voiced in personal terms is unfortunate but understandable.
Sums up exactly how I feel about the matter. I will be first in line to support a legitimate F1 team in the US (this one included if I'm proven wrong.) But it is because of that level of support and passion, I will always have a healthy skepticism for such a team.
I would dearly love to be wrong. You can't imagine how proud I would be to see the US F1 cars ushering in a new era of dominance of the sport. Heck, I would even be happy just to see them running in the top half of the field. I don't think anyone wants their own countries F1 effort to fail just for gloating purposes, but it definitely seems a bit weird at how it is all supposedly happening. We've heard for years that it's not feasible to run a team remotely. Toyota found that out. Andretti found that out. Lots of others did too - it's never worked. Also, the timing seems off. Not just off, but waaay off. We had the biggest farce of an F1 race right here in the USA (Indy 2005). Then the USGP where Schumi moved over to let Rubens win after Rubens let him win before. Then the USA losing it's F1 race. Then Montreal losing it's F1 race. Then a global economic meltdown. And this is when Windsor is starting a new F1 team based in the USA? It just seems strange. Strange beyond the point of believability. I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I am. I will be amazed if USF1 is on the grid next year. If they are, I will be amazed if they aren't a laughing stock. And I will be even more amazed if they make it beyond 1-2 years. I want a real USA racing effort that's competitive and serious. I just don't think USF1 will be either of those things. Like I said, I hope I am wrong.
If that impresses you, then let me setup a few websites of my own with "renderings" of my new F1 team's car. I hope for them btw that the picture is not the real car as it looks odd. Careful there. Now you are entering troll territory by putting words/attitude in my mouth. I said before (just scroll down) that I would love to see a US F1 team. Windsor is an idiot. Period. Have ever read his articles? Have you ever watched his interviews? He is Captain Shallow. Again, careful with the personal insults. Benoit said USF1 is smoke and mirrors all along. How about the fact that Bernie says the same thing? Now you're starting to irritate me. I have no problem with different opinions, in fact that's what a chat site strives on. Windsor could end this speculation at once by inviting a Speed TV camera team into his "factory" and show us the progress. The fact that he doesn't, speaks volumes.
Mike, Thank you for your kind post and not trying to rip me a new one. It was very genuine and fair. One thing I have to call you out on...there are NO driver contracts. I am sorry but maybe I am following the new teams progress more closely but there are no contracts with any drivers. If you know something, please share cause I am dying to know cause that would be a big announcement. Also in regards to Manor and Campos, they have NEVER built a car. I have many friends that own race teams and they all say that having a F3 team or GP2 team wouldnt give them much of a head start. They dont build those cars.
Posting like that you are certainly not doing USF1 any favors. I am being kind by not specifying the mental imagery your text and style evokes. Let's hope you have actually NOTHING whatsoever to do with the proposed team.
