Thankfully, the motor sports world in recent days with the news, something held back, so I could maintain my cold. But then came the announcement that Carlos Slim is said to have bought the former Honda team.
That I was then but a little surprised, because between the announcement of the withdrawal of Honda and a sale would have located just three weeks. And at Christmas time. This may actually not be, because as long as the experts do already, to check the books. As it turned raustellte, the thing was a duck. Apparently Carlos Slim has indeed a certain interest in Formula One, but so far he has officially denied any agreement. Will probably continue to be Sun The question is, who otherwise could however emerge as a buyer?
Vijay Mallya
Indeed Mallya is listed as a possible buyer of the team. This is somewhat surprising, but he actually has his own team to do enough. Some journalists believe that Mallya's just makes so that he comes to know how the Honda ran. It may be just what he is now with it? He should cut a deal with McLaren-Mercedes, which put him into the team more knowledge than he can tolerate only once. Sure, it pays to always know what is the competition like this, but Honda has been shown in recent years, not now necessarily as a top team. But supposing he would still like to cannibalize Honda - Honda wants to avoid exactly that well, where they require the new owner, a guarantee for the plant and its employees. Then there is still the version that Mallya buys Honda, so he can make his own team closely, because he finds at Honda probably much better working conditions.
Dave Richards
The name of Richard's will alone so called again and again because he has helped the team in the first place among the few successes. The Richards is a very capable man who could with Nick Fry and Ross Brawn are a top team on the legs, is beyond question. Richards can already be demonstrated in a variety of racing classes. His company Prodrive has been able to enter not only with Subaru in the WRC many victories and titles, but also provided with the Aston Martin in GT1 for attention. But the question is, where Richards will get the money. He has indeed after withdrawal of Subaru spare capacity, but it also lacks revenue. Through its holding in Aston Martin, he has good contacts, especially to Kuwait, but if there is loose matter how the money?
Martin Leach
Leach was the one who should be in the spring of Super Aguri sale for an Arab consortium. The deal fell apart as everyone knows the last minute, and was cited by the Leach already with the proposition that everything is in the bag. Whether he has said so, is another matter, but his reputation will have it so or not so helpful. Leach is certainly one that can get the right people together, but it comes with Honda for more money than at the Super Aguri. Leach also plays well, the Arab map, where his contacts are more in the Emirates. They're as sharp as ever to Formula One, but already have their own very expensive Grand Prix from 2009. For Leach is what I think even if Richards: I've often heard in recent decades that the Arabs want to Formula One - only one she has never seen.
The unknown
It is in such delicate negotiations always the possibility that names such as Leach, Slim or Richards are just a smoke bomb. After the one from PR point of view, rather disastrous negotiations between Leach, Super Aguri and Honda in the spring of 2008, you should have learned something. May be that it is in the background really serious negotiations with an investor is still unknown. In contrast, however, says the chatter of Formula One, in what could never long remain a secret.
Formula One - Alonso and Ferrari
The italienschen press must have been extremely bored over Christmas. In any case, now felt the time 234sten announced that Fernando Alonso now .. but honestly and truly at Ferrari So by 2011. Definitely! Oh well - the expiry date of such messages is known, and indeed the arguments that speak against an obligation of the Spaniard, are well known. For he will hardly leave Renault, he may there be world champion and that will probably be able to see in the course of the 2009 season. And when I see him in 2010 in a Ferrari and not until 2011. Makes no sense at all, now enter into a contract for the distant future. What else would it be if Raikkonen has signaled in its winter break water break Ferrari that he stopped after 2009 so like so. Rumor but even the Italians do not have to offer.
NASCAR - Allmendinger on GEM
AJ Allmendinger NASCAR remains preserved and replaced, in a somewhat surprising move, Elliot Sadler at GEM. Now Sadler is now known not just as a top five riders, even though he once its light moments. But even if Kasey Kahne once caught one day when he is only one arm and listless way, Sadler is not touch him. Since Allmendinger without tittener way very quickly on your way may be the exchange of positions makes sense. The move also shows that the air of "middle class" driver with the better teams is getting tight. Casey Mears at Hendrick and Sadler at GEM ever are two distinct characters. This is an exceptional talent like Regan Smith, after all, Rookie of the Year 2008, finds no place even such a thing. He is now struggling with the "Furniture Row" team put together.
And what else?
Here is all the F1 teams presentation dates, so far known.
15:01 - Ferrari, Toyota
16.01 - McLaren
19.01 - Renault, Williams
20.01 - BMW
Red Bull and STR have not yet announced, presumably because there is only one roll-out in January. Force India goes before March is no longer on the track, so there's the new car and see until then. Still need the ex-Honda team, but where you do not know now what happened.
TV program by the end of the week is now online.
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I still can not quite imagine that it is possible to find a buyer for the team. Even a billionaire can be an F1 team today does not do more than "toy". That would have been at least in large part to be financed by all the sponsors, with respective totals, if you really want to succeed. Whether the rule changes actually lead to significantly lower costs and whether the F1 is then also still be a promising advertising platform that will play out within the next few years.