The Rise and Fall of USF1 (merged)

I don't get your complaint. What's not American about USF1?

They have an English team principal.
A base in Spain.
British engine.
British electronics.
Argentinian and German drivers (presumably)

It's as American as apple pie!

 

I'm with you. Fool me once . . . .

 

We had American F1 drivers in 2009...Massa, Piquet and Barrichello are all S. American,

 

To be fair, as I have said before, I think PeeWee's idea of an all American team was admirable, but a little ill conceived, especially within the time constraints required in order to make it onto the 2010 grid. The reality quickly became apparant that it was not feasible and so they have had to look elsewhere for expertise/suppliers, to not do so would be a prime example of "cutting your nose off to spite your face".

Who knows, if the team can survive the first couple of years and get a proper foothold in F1, then perhaps they can start to look at incorporating more and more American resources and realise the original (ambitious) plan.

You judge people based on the evidence available to you. You assess whether you like them based on their appearance, their personality, their mannerisms and the things that they do, that's just human nature. Sometimes you get it wrong and misjudge people but most times your gut instinct is your best friend.

As Groucho Marx once said: "Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you: he really is an idiot!".

 

Wow, thanks for that nugget, Ira.

How can anybody take this guy for real? Snake oil salesman.

 

That's not atypical for Formula 1 personnel. That environment rivals Congress for sleaze factor.

 

LOL

You have a point. The difference between PeeWee and the Piranha club is, that the other principals actually have something to offer on the table and generally know what they're talking about.

PeeWee reminds me of a dumb version of Eddie Jordan.

 

F1. If you look at it its a barn. If you smell it its a stable.
W/ apologies to G. Marx

 

Ken Anderson is actually team principal. PW is just in a position to have the relationship with the press and do what he does best, issue press releases etc.

The team also wasn't conceived just a few months ago. It had been in planning for a few years, the budget cap was just an impetus to expedite their plans.

On a side note, they've announced that John Anderson is joining them.

As I mentioned before, I'd be more worried about Campos making the grid than USF1.

 

If that is truly what he does best, then the man doesn't have much talent. His press releases are ridiculous and contradictions in themselves (e.g. we went from "a base for new US talent" to paydrivers from abroad).

Also does that mean we'll have to see more of this clown if and when the team makes it to the grid? God help us!

BTW: I read a German comment by a serious journalist who used the term "vomit" in reference to PeeWee's press releases. That's how much he is liked already. So much for his "relationship with the press".

I'm not worried about Campos, because I have no interest in them. Fine if they make it, we'll have another two cars. The fate of USF1 is much more important to me since they would represent the US in a way.

 

Nobody cares about technicalities. In colloquial usage, "America" refers to the USA. There haven't been any American drivers in F1 since Scott Speed.

 

I think the Piranha Club is a thing of the past. Hard to say that Martin Whitmarsh, Domenicalli, whoever the Renault principal is, and Ross Brawn etc are are as vindictive & ruthless as Ron Dennis, Jean Todt, Briatore were during their heydays.
The current team bosses are more cohesive and 'softer'
The only Piranha is Bernie.

Man- you REALLY dislike Peter Windsor! I don't think you've refered to him by his full name once. lol.......
Kevin

 

Interesting comment and you have a point. In a way Mad Max threw out the Piranhas. The current principals are more like industry managers.

You have no idea. I'm actually holding back because of the TOS.

But it is not only his stupid comments he makes on Speed TV that are so irritating, but what ticks me off even more are all the lost opportunities: Here is a guy with access to the drivers walking the grid and doing the post race interviews (at least until last season), yet he blows every single opportunity to ask something interesting and poignant. I expect Morley Safer/Steve Croft/Katie Couric kind of questions not these fluff ball "all the best and good luck to you" pats on the shoulder.

 

a bit of an assumption on your part....I 'only' said there seems to be little or nothing TO support....and implicitly berated them for giving us so little to show support for.....

my (hopefully) final statement:

show us a technically dazzling car, with a 'brand name' sponsor (ie, big bux), designed by a team with impressive credentials; at least one driver we could take seriously, and do all of this on the accepted schedule......then you may hear some cheering even from the tifosi among us.....

is that too much to ask of a team aspiring to play in the big leagues?

then you and both can show them some respect....

Tritone

 

Hidden in a story about Campos is a requote from Sunday's Gazzetta dello Sport (presumably print edition as I cannot find it in the online) that USF1 have asked for permission to start their season at the Spanish GP ie a few weeks late

 

here's the quote from the story (it's the last paragraph in the online article):
According to claims in Sunday's Gazzetta dello Sport, USF1 have applied to the FIA for special dispensation to miss the first few fly away races of the season. The team reportedly want instead to start their campaign at April's Spanish GP.

Carol

if Campos sells out I hope Bruno comes back to ORECA with the 2010 908 (wishful thinking)

 

Minardi
Super Aguri
Force India
Toro Rossa

Need I continue? Again, it seems that this team, for whatever reason, is being held to higher standards than others.

 

they passed the nose cone crash test.

I wish them well.

 

it's on You Tube - test was done in the UK

Carol

 

....I don't recall much cheering going on here for any of those teams.....more like a lot of snickering and rolling of eyes.....

And for that matter, why should they NOT be held to a higher standard? They're supposed to represent US, after all.......

 

Those teams listed are *infinitely* higher up on the scale of seriousness than USF1. They all have hundreds of employees, tens of millions of funding, real staffs made up of known people, genuine HQ's with appropriate machinery and equipment.

Totally different from USF1.

 

http://en.espnf1.com/teamus/motorsport/story/6391.html

 

Sporting director Peter Windsor told F1's official website last week: "I can't say any more than that we will definitely be on the Bahrain grid."

...with a microphone in hand interviewing people"

 

LOL

It just dawned on me what incredibly cool game Bernie is playing: By telling Stefan to keep moving forward with the Toyota leftovers, he keeps an enormous pressure on the newbie teams: If one falters, Stefan GP is in.

Plus the carrot of the special TV money bonus for the newbies.

Combining all that makes it pretty clear to me, that USF1 (nor any other team) can afford not to be at the first GP. If they don't make it there, Stefan GP will get their space and cash.

 

The difference is that those team didn't have a clown as their PR guy making absurd statements every few days.

And when they did (e.g. TR's sacking of Speed or Farce India proclaiming a challenge to the top teams) we did give them a grilling on here.