http://www.blick.ch/sport/formel1/das-ist-die-40-milliarden-strecke-132035 Wann wird GP-Neuling USF1 mit TV-Reporter Peter Windsor und Ken Anderson endlich der Stecker rausgezogen, um für Sauber Platz zu machen. Gestern fand hier ein Meeting der Teamchefs (Sporting Working Group) für 2010 statt. Als FIA-Rennleiter Charlie Whiting die Amerikaner einlud, bekam er eine Absage das Geisterteam aus Charlotte (USA), wo in der düstersten Stadtgegend kaum 20 Leute beschäftigt werden, hat noch nie ein Treffen der Teams besucht. Translation: "When will they finally pull the plug on GP newbies USF1 with TV reporter PW and Ken Anderson to make room for the Sauber team? Yesterday they had here (Abu Dhabi) a meeting of the team managers (Sporting Working Group) regarding 2010. When FIA racing director Charlie Whiting invited the Americans, he got a decline - the ghost team from Charlotte, which employs barely 20 people in the darkest part of town, has never attended a meeting of the teams." Doesn't look very promising for 2010 I'd say.
What's so particularly interesting is the fact, that PW doesn't attend these meetings. After all he is on site in his function as Speed reporter/F1 interviewer. So don't give me the excuse they couldn't fly there (besides, what are telecons here for?). It is one thing to ignore the fans and put them and your website on ice, but ignoring the FIA and their meetings?
Carol, that's not what the article says... i speak fluent Deutsch, so here is the most important part.. "USF1 is headed by a tool named PW, and they are hoping by some miracle to be on the grid next year. So far, they have done nothing to cultivate any kind of support from the existing teams and the public at large. The FIA needs to nip this in the bud and put Sauber in the slot." Jk and i don't know PW personally so i'm sure he's a good guy and everything, but his actions on camera are bizarre!
Uh-oh; did you finish that plate of crow from a few weeks ago? If not, send it my way! Yikes! Kevin thx for the info (I think)
That's like a MAJOR NO-NO. It would be like a boss calling a lunch meeting for all their employees and then you go have lunch with a buddy instead......for sure no brownie points with that one. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. Carol
Thank you so much for the straight to the point translated version. Perhaps we need a petition on behalf of Mr. Sauber's interest/sincere intent to remain in F1 despite the shortcomings of BMW. Carol
How does this all relate to this article of october 8th? Seems like Benoit is a little bit biased about Sauber. Nothing new there.
That is a very good question and I'm asking myself the same. Agreed on that one. And Benoit has been wrong in the past about other things. So the speculation and the rumors continue until we see something tangible from USF1 or the FIA makes the final decision one way or the other. Actually my take on USF1 is as follows: They were in the right spot at the right time when Mad Max was looking for teams to build an alliance against the FOTA. At that time the budget cap and the two classes for 2010 looked like a small team could survive in F1 with a tiny budget. Then the two classes got dropped and the budget cap revoked (well it is coming back, but in smaller and slower decrements). So now USF1 has a spot on the grid, which is worth $$$, but is struggling to find the necessary budget to run the team. That's why their progress is slow and where all the rumors are coming from. I think they're now in the situation where sponsor money either materializes for good or it doesn't. Until it does, they'll be running on a shoe string budget (probably Anderson's and PW's personal finances), hoping that somebody else might buy them up or that the sponsors (e.g. BestBuy) deliver the cash. So to some degree they themselves probably don't really know whether they'll be at the start in 2010 or not. Which makes it even harder for the FIA to make a decision. In the old days a new team had to deposit something like 50 millions into an escrow (after the Lola team faltered in the mid nineties), but I think that requirement went away. Just my 2 cents.
Your take is right on, I still think they will try and make some money by selling their slot to Sauber. PW is a tool, never liked that bozo.
C'mon guys, stop with all the hating! Obviously this is just a sign of how rock-solid USF1 really is! I mean, only a team insecure in its future would pander to the FIA, attending their frat house meetings in hopes of being accepted by establishment, being forced to dress up in funny outfits and having beer and rotten food poured over their heads in some sort of F1 initiation. NO! They'll have none of that. They're choosing to enter the sport with dignity and on their own terms. And I for one respect that!
not a sponsor; he's the $$$..... http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/08/19/youtube-ceo-chad-hurley-joins-usf1/ In his role as USF1s primary investor, Hurley will bring his entrepreneurial ingenuity and unique outlook on social media to USF1 while also providing corporate strategy and visionary expertise to the startup operation. Hurley will be a major force behind the teams goal to showcase that a U.S.-based team with American technology can compete again in Formula One and eventually win races in the most prestigious and most celebrated motorsport in the world.
windsor may not be liked by many people, but he managed to convince a billionaire to invest with him. To me, that alone is a major coup...........
if i had that much mooluh to burn, i would invest too..,i'd invest in my 'interests and passions'...like say...buying an English Football club..i'd buy Arsenal... and if the endeavor didn't work out too well...wouldn't be too bigadeal... now back to USF1, i'm hoping it all works out, but the way things are going, it's just annoying...'give me something to believe in'
The fact that such an internet mogul is behind them makes the lack of communication even more puzzling.
This was taked from the other USF1 thread: This morning during the Abu Dhabi practice Matchett said they will have footage on Sunday of his visit with PW at the USF1 facility.
I can't wait to see that footage. It better show something real or the rumors will only increase. Somehow I have a feeling it goes like this: Intro with PW at his desk waffling on for a minute. Worker pressing a button at the autoclave; 10 seconds. Computer graphic of a virtual car running at Motorland, 2 minutes Matchett thanking PW, 30 seconds.
I heard and will watch with hope. My point was that its odd that a start-up team with a strong link to an internet genius is so under promoted.
