I'm surprised to have not heard of anyone else taking to Honda. What are the odds they'll enter next year supplying only one team?
With big Mac going to them next year, I also am surprised no one has declared, but I'd guess no one wants to tip their hand or screw up their current deal and start getting left over hand me down engines.
True but please enter the Ford Ecotech engines they are already racing, technology that could transfer to the F1 engine formula without inventing the wheel. A turbocharged ford Ecotech V6 won yesterday's Tudor race, albeit a 3.5 liter I believe.... And from the way Ferrari is running this year, not too sure that is a great direction either... The whole point me thinks of this new formula was so that more manufacturers could justify an expensive involvement in Formula 1...
True, but I would think the contracts would need to be ironed out well in advance, particularly end of contract work given whatever advance notification clause(s) might be required to exit a contract early. Unless someone is willing to pay early contract termination fees in order to keep 2015 plans quiet, seems like they might have had to already come to agreement with their current supplier as well. That's twice as much behind the scenes negotiating to try to hush up and twice as much chance something will slip and well hear about it. :wink:
I'd love to see Ford back in but unless they started developing one of these power units long ago there's no way they'll be on the grid in 2015 unless Cosworth has one available they can re-badge. I bet it's a lot more expensive than trying to get their foot in the door in other types of racing. On the other hand, in this era I don't think you go into F1 as a car and/or engine builder because you think it will improve your car company's revenue and help you develop new tech for your road cars...unless you're good at lying to yourself. I think you do it because you've always wanted your name on the grid and you want the exposure despite the expense. Takes an owner, CEO or board that just wants to do it and is willing to write off the loss. Meh, I've been wrong before...
Formula 1 will always be for marketing value to a engine manufacturer, and the present F1 formula would fit nicely for Ford's "Ecoboost" marketing strategy. Just spit balling here....lol
Ferrari: Stefano Domenicali quits as boss of F1 team Stefano Domenicali has resigned as the team principal of Ferrari with immediate effect. The Italian team have struggled this season, failing to register a podium finish in the opening three races. Domenicali, 48, who will be replaced by Marco Mattiacci, had been in charge since replacing Jean Todt in 2008. There are particular moments in all of our professional lives where you need the courage to take difficult and very painful decisions," said Domenicali. "It's time to make an important change. As boss, I take the responsibility - as I always have - for the situation we are going through." Ferrari have not won the world title since Kimi Raikkonen's success in 2007. Domenicali, who had been with the Italian team for 23 years in various roles, added: "This decision has been taken with the aim of doing something to shake things up." Fernando Alonso has claimed two fourth places and a ninth in his three races for Ferrari so far this season, while team-mate Raikkonen has come seventh, 12th and 10th. Alonso revealed his concerns at Ferrari's lack of competitiveness following the last race in Bahrain, and the team's predicament was not helped when issues with their car meant that they had to abandon testing at the same track early. "I thank Stefano Domenicali, not only for his constant dedication and effort, but also for the great sense of responsibility he has shown, even today, in always putting the interests of Ferrari above all else," said Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo. Mattiacci, who is the current president of Ferrari North America, will take over for the next F1 race, which is the Chinese Grand Prix on 20 April. LDM gives Domenicali the stare of death...
With such great drivers Ferrari has had, and considering where they are at.....this is long overdue. Racing is about results.
Yeah, when we saw him shake his head at the last race, I knew someone was gonna fall on their sword.....
Thank god I never had a boss look at me like that, well except for that one time in 1990. Glad that company went out of business!
When I saw that earlier I thought "it's probably funny if you know what a turbot is..." Had to Google that one. In case any one else is as ignorant as I was:
You know, this makes me wonder about the engine homologation rules. If Mercedes has a huge advantage over everyone else with their turbine / compressor setup, can the other teams actually change enough of their engines to mimic it without breaking the rules? They should have some leeway over the next few years, but I'm not sure where it fits into this chart (apologies for the size). It kinda looks like the compressor is already frozen for next year.
If anyone is interested, Haas held a teleconference and the full transcript is available here. Warning: It's a loooong one. One question asked mirrors something I was thinking about just this morning as I was wondering whether they have any real chance of getting to the grid in 2015. That's a pretty steep hill given the timing. He says he wants to start in 2015 but doesn't know whether they can make it, depends on who they choose as technical partners. The most hopeful takeaway for me is he seems fairly realistic about how difficult it will be and how long it might take for them to go from crawling to walking to running.
Rumors this am that not only will Honda be back as an engine supplier, but that BMW wants back in as an engine only - not a full team - supplier, and that Ford IS resurrecting the stillborn Cosworth V-6, under the Ecoboost label...... 2015 should be an interesting year, to say the least!
Believe me there is everything they need including wind tunnels in this area to build it....and VIR and Road Atlanta are a short drive for testing!! Haas is a realist, if he is going to do it, he has a game plan..