Campos is up for sale!

[donskar]

I think it had something to do with the threat of a manufacturer based setup- in that they were putting up these arbitary teams to supposedly replace Ferrari and McLaren et al. Now they have their signatures I guess the FIA don't really need the extra teams. I truly do feel for Lola and Prodrive though, as the lack of these guys makes me think it was a personal decision on Mosley's side. Now I'm hoping that Stef and USF1 make it to the grid.

What? Max make personal decisions that might NOT be for the greater good of the sport? Surely you jest?

[Ted68]

Well whatever happened, uh, happened.

I've got $52.16 in my pocket. We could all pool a fund for a minority share just so Bernie could answer directly to Manchild.

[WhiteBlue]

There is no secret to the 2009 FIA selection process for new teams only memory loss by some F1tec users. In the middle of a break away debate the FIA needed a viable engine supplier who was not throwing his weight behind FOTA but unconditionally behind the FIA. So only Cosworth customers were considered with first priority. What is wrong about this?

Sure, Prodrive would have been a welcome new team but they made their decision and have to live with it. Stefanovic needs to make a proper application to get a grid slot in case another new teams breaks down. At least I have read that they havn't even applied properly. Lola are the most likely candidate in my view if an opening appears.

Campos commissioning a chassis from Dallara is completely within the rules. You can outsource the whole design and manufacturing of a chassis if that is an exclusive contract. Dallara could theoretically even build a different chassis with a different group of engineers for another F1 team although this would probably lead to a very intensive investigation by the federation.

[Confused_Andy]

PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE PRODRIVE

[WhiteBlue]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns22023.html?

With the construction of the second chassis and enough spare parts to go testing and racing looming, Campos needs to find a large amount of money as soon as possible or risk delaying the Italian company's work even further. According to sources close to Dallara payments have been delayed, with the company slowing down the development of the car and it's now certain Campos won't be able to attend the Valencia test at the start of February even if it finds all the money it needs to run the 2010 campaign quickly.

At the same time Stefan Grand Prix continues to work as if it's taking part in the coming championship, even though the Serbian company has not been given an entry, with Bernie Ecclestone supporting the deal done with Toyota and, allegedly, pushing hard to make the other teams accept it as a suitable replacement for Campos Meta 1 in the 2010 Formula One World Championship - a move the FIA could be far from keen to endorse following the legal challenge made by Zoran Stefanovich to the Federation's team selection criteria.

According to German sources Stefan GP has bee handed what would have been the Toyota TF110 chassis, with engines and gearboxes included and will field Kazuki Nakajima in one of its cars should an entry in the championship become available.

An interesting update from GP.com. If Bernie pushes Stefan and the FIA oppose it an interesting situation could develop where the FOTA teams can play a decisive role.

[xpensive]

An interesting update from GP.com. If Bernie pushes Stefan and the FIA oppose it an interesting situation could develop where the FOTA teams can play a decisive role.

Might there be other reasons for denying Zoran Stefanovich, could private money from Serbia have a nasty ring to it?

[Pup]

There is no secret to the 2009 FIA selection process for new teams only memory loss by some F1tec users. In the middle of a break away debate the FIA needed a viable engine supplier who was not throwing his weight behind FOTA but unconditionally behind the FIA. So only Cosworth customers were considered with first priority. What is wrong about this?

I think what was wrong is that it was clear that Cosworth would have enough customers regardless of the FIA requirement. In my mind, the requirement wasn't set to ensure Cosworth's participation, but to ensure that Mercedes' bargaining position didn't improve. There's a value to that in itself from a certain perspective, but not enough to justify flooding the sport with financially risky teams at the expense of other, far more stable efforts.

[WhiteBlue]

I think what was wrong is that it was clear that Cosworth would have enough customers regardless of the FIA requirement.

I do not agree with that view. Cosworth are a good company that can exist without F1 business but the FIA needed a FOTA independent engine supplier with as many customers as possible to run F1 in a break away scenario.

[Pup]

In winning the FIA's engine contract, Cosworth agreed to provide engines for as few as one or as many as twelve teams. So the engines would be there, regardless of what happened with FOTA.

Which leaves us with the FIA using the Cosworth supply to maneuver against FOTA. Again:

There's a value to that in itself from a certain perspective, but not enough to justify flooding the sport with financially risky teams at the expense of other, far more stable efforts.

[Pandamasque]

If the Cosworth engines aren't mandated by the tech regs it is nothing but corruption, no manner how you call that 'manouver'.

[ISLAMATRON]

In winning the FIA's engine contract, Cosworth agreed to provide engines for as few as one or as many as twelve teams. So the engines would be there, regardless of what happened with FOTA.

proof please? I remember the minimum being 4 teams for cosworth to consider starting development.

[WhiteBlue]

Correct! Cosworth as any other commercial entity would not have the engine they have now unless the downpayment of the new teams had made the project viable and worthwhile for them. Just one or two customers had meant a high price for those and lower or no return for Cosworth, not to speak of fewer development resources. Those who criticise the FIA for the move are the same who deny that the manufacturers pulled out due to the economic crisis and deny that budget or resource restrictions where necessary for F1 to continue to exist beyond 2009.

If the Cosworth engines aren't mandated by the tech regs it is nothing but corruption, no manner how you call that 'manouver'.

Having an independent supplier of competitive engines in F1 did guarantee that the sport will not fall into the hands of a manufacturer oligopoly under the control of an Italian pimp. The current state of affairs is much better than anything that could have come with the break away. The alternative to the Cosworth deal would have meant corruption at an unprecedented scale (compare Singapore 2008).

[xpensive]

At the end of the day, there might not be so many Cosworth teams on the grid as intended?

[WhiteBlue]

At the end of the day, there might not be so many Cosworth teams on the grid as intended?

The intention was having three additional teams initially. With Williams joining the lot there would still be a good result if one team drops out. Williams seems to follow a strategy of close cooperation with Cosworth to achieve a maximum of engine/chassis integration like the manufacturers do with their teams.

[Pandamasque]

Having an independent supplier of competitive engines in F1 did guarantee that the sport will not fall into the hands of a manufacturer oligopoly under the control of an Italian pimp. The current state of affairs is much better than anything that could have come with the break away. The alternative to the Cosworth deal would have meant corruption at an unprecedented scale (compare Singapore 2008).

Why do I have a feeling that you have some personal intere$t in that deal? I does sound like it