Ok, aside from just folding up the tent and knowing you're not going to make it, what would YOU do to keep the dream alive? Here's what I would do. I would abandon (for now) the idea of making the car in the US. I would KEEP some engineers in the US but merge with an existing Euro team -- one that is under funded (and who isn't?). I would all that new team USF1 or something with the US in it. I'd get the best high profile US driver involved at some level (maybe Bobby Rahal, maybe Mario or Michael) to be the spokesperson and be involved in the direction and marketing of the team. It has to be someone race fans in the US recognize and have respect for. I would put at least one US driver in the cockpit -- maybe someone from Nascar. I know, I know... the driver will probably suck. WHO CARES??? The team will suck anyway for the first several years. It's about building the team, not getting victories out of the box. The other would be from South America. Then, I would use the clout of being a US team to attract US businesses -- or Euro business who want a bigger presence in the US market-- to join up as sponsors. I would do this KNOWING that the team will come in last in every event. It doesn't matter. They are building a future and if Toyota can have the biggest team with the biggest budget and in 10 years only be an "also ran", who cares? You're building experience and a future, not to win at this point. In a couple of years, maybe you can make your own workshops in the US and move the team headquarters, or at least some of the engineering or construction.
gee it sounds suspiciously similar to what was certainly their original strategy -- except for the euro partnership of course. (and i don't see how the euro partnership helps your other agenda items along.) easy to come up with a viable strategy, the hard part is the execution!
I'd continue making carbon fibre toasters. Seriously, there is NOTHING USF1 can do at this point. Why? Because if they don't show up for Bahrain, they will loose their grid position. And that's the only thing of value they own right now. Why would any struggling Euro team want to go in bed with them? There is no reason. There is no staff of significance, no driver of importance, no management skill that knows what its doing, no sponsor, nothing. All they have is a vacant building in Charlotte and a cf tub, which will end up on ebay. PS: The toaster idea could actually make a buck or two. Everybody knows them for that now. Can't be that hard to pick a standard toaster and wrap it in a self adhesive CF matte (that's how I gave my 308 fuse box an authentic cf look). Put on your USF1 logo and sell it to weeping fans on Speed TV's chat forum. And laugh at the tailenders while taking the checks to the bank.
The only thing that might work is to turn it into a reality TV series. They are awful popular these days and none of them that I have seen have any real substance either.
There is only one option besides folding and going home. "Merge" with another team. The options are Stefan GP or ProDrive. The former is more likely... what they have to offer StefanGP is a guaranteed entry. Stefan will probably get it, but it's not guaranteed. If they become USF1, then it is guaranteed. And KA/PW would be foolish to expect a big payday in return for this... PW would be well advised to sue for a PR role in the team, or some task that keeps him in the public eye but away from having to actually do or achieve anything, maybe PR director or something like that. KA is radioactive and shouldn't be touched, but if he also wanted to leverage the situation for himself, then perhaps some sort of technical role. This would be a sub-ideal situation for sure, but it would leave then both involved in F1, and allow for a future possibility of branching off somehow themselves. You never know what will happen in the whacky world of F1, but it's highly likely that in the next 1-2 years, there will be multiple opportunities to take over existing teams who are falling on hard times. If PW/KA were still in F1 and still had their dignity and reputations intact (through bringing a "USF1" car to the grid, even if it was really just a StefanGP car branded as USF1), then they may have a chance to raise the $$ needed to take over a floundering team. That's what I would do, at least. Although, it all depends on what's going on in the back room with Bernie.
a. Fire KA, keep PW on a 1099 contract as a mouthpiece with an option to become employee. Having a loudmouth, even PW will be important to keep media happy, even if the media is laughing it's okay. b. contact Ford Motor Company, get into bed, get financing. c. Get State/Local government subsidy (Tax abatements/job creation tax credits) to move USF1 from Charlotte to Detroit for 2011 season. c. Get high profile US drivers to rally around building the USF1 team d. re-invogorate Ford/Ferrari war, but this time in F1
I think if I was going to set up a US F-1 team. I would brand it US NASCAR F-1. I would have NASCAR be the offical sponsor of the team. and who ever won the NASCAR cup, the year before I would make the livery of the car based on the winning NASCAR Team. I think that would be a perfect way to promote NASCAR to European / world wide fans, while also providing a platform for US drivers that want to road race. It would also let all the red necks prove they can beat the euro guys at their own game... too bad it will never happen, but to me that would be the perfect way to do it. Team US NASCAR F-1...
I think he may be better supervising the guy stocking the soda machine... I'm not sure we want him touching anything mechanical, lest it turn into a steaming turd
here's what i'd do. 1)rename it 2)move it to europe, preferably close to silverstone 3)get a lot of $$ 4)develop a car for 2011, abandon the 2010 season completely 5)get some of the better staff in my team 6)drivers: Jules Bianchi...I'd like kobayashi but if he does as good as he did the last 2 races, no hope in hell! 7)secure mercedes engines 8)use as much track time as legally allowed (missing all pre-season testing and the first 3 races isn't the best of starts 9)rest of the time in simulators I think that's all what was needed (apart from the name, which is fine...but since it'd be my team I can do what I want). Good looking pit babes is a nice one too
Sorry, Stefan already used that business model. Apart from the moving bit. And the engines. Anyway, Merc cannot supply more than 3 teams per regulations.
I'd turn it all over to the F-Chat USF1 team and let them deal with Bernie. We'd be gettin concessions. And I'm not talking soda stands. Ok, maybe pop stands the 1st year.
Don't laugh. There's plenty of us on here within the F-chat community to staff the team that have the business experience and proven credentials to set up a proper infrastructure for the team and/or the contacts to attract solid team members. Not to mention the financial means collectively to do it...
Hire a tone of smoking babes and throw a killer party for everyone who "believed" before I close the doors forever. THE END, the tha tha that's all folks !
