Usf1

legion · 12-22-2009, 07:03 AM

Uh-oh.

'Only 24 cars will be on the grid next year' - Planet-F1 News from planet-f1.com

Quote:

Bernie Ecclestone believes there will be only 24 cars on the grid when the new season kicks off in Bahrain in the middle of March.

Nine of the 10 teams who raced in 2009, two of them under a new guise, plus four new teams - Lotus F1 Racing, Campos Meta 1, USF1 and Virgin Racing - have been handed slots for next year's World Championship.

According to The Times, Ecclestone is convinced that two of the new teams will drop out before the new season kicks off.

'The Formula One commercial rights-holder revealed that he expects two of the four new teams with sanctioned grid slots for next season - Campos F1 and USF1 - not to make it,' the paper reports.

'Ecclestone expects 24 cars to start the opening race in Bahrain in March.'

"I think the people we expected to perform will and those that we thought wouldn't, won't," he said.

Spanish-based Campos have already confirmed Bruno Senna as one of their drivers for next year, but USF1 are yet to reveal their line-up for the debut season.

herr_oberst · 12-22-2009, 07:05 AM

That would be a major disappointment if USF1 can't be there next season.

legion · 12-22-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

That would be a major disappointment if USF1 can't be there next season.

Agreed.

And the fact that Bernie apparently doesn't like them makes me like them more...

But it is getting awfully suspicious that they haven't announced any drivers yet....and that there aren't even any rumors.

herr_oberst · 12-22-2009, 08:04 AM

I didn't realize there was any animosity, and Peter Windsor deserves better. He does as much as anyone to evangelize F1 for an american audience.

motion · 12-22-2009, 08:11 AM

Danica and Kyle Busch, USF1 drivers, FTW. LOL.

legion · 12-22-2009, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motion

Danica and Kyle Busch, USF1 drivers, FTW. LOL.

That would be great, but the guy I'd most like to see in F1 would be Tony Stewart. He'd have to get in better shape, but I think he could cut it.

Kyle Busch would probably bring a substantial U.S. crowd back to F1, which is something I'd like to see.

As for Danica, she had a lot of potential, and she is better than 60% of the grid in IRL, but she isn't good enough for F1. Besides, Alonso already has the crybaby market cornered in F1 and I'd hate to see cat fights between them after races. Alonso needs to practice his crashing to help his teammate anyway, because he just walked into another number 2 slot.

Maybe Helio Castroneves could make the jump from IRL, but no in the U.S. would care.

carreraken · carreraken's Garage

We have a local kid that has done really well in the formula BMW series and recently had his first GP2 Asia race. He had a test drive with the BMW/Sauber F1 this month.

He may not be ready for F1 just yet, but I'm certain he will eventually make it there.

Take a look at his web site: Alexander Rossi

URY914 · 12-22-2009, 01:44 PM

An IRL or NASCAR driver would be lost trying to sort and set up an F1 car. It would take KB or DP a full year to make the grid.

motion · 12-22-2009, 03:57 PM

Actually, I was joking... should have written it in green

If USF1 is linked to Kyle Busch (or Kurt, can't remember which), well then, they are in serious trouble. I'm not surprised about this at all.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Windsor's rebuttal:

BBC Sport - F1 - US F1 and Campos deny Bernie Ecclestone's 2010 doubts

yellowperil · 12-22-2009, 05:03 PM

I for one hope Peter Windsor and his USF1 team make it unto the grid this year, but when Speed Chanell did a "Tour" of the facility a while back, it looked very staged and there didn't seem to be much going on. Something didn't seem legit. It was on during the final F1 race I think. Anyone else see it?

herr_oberst · 12-22-2009, 06:07 PM

I saw it. It looked like it was in some office park somewhere, a few computer displays and a barren room that was supposedly Peter Windsors office... A far cry from the Red Bull factory that Matchett had been showing viewers throughout the season.

I sort of felt that whiff of staged BS, too, and I know that more than one scribe has said the link to Danica and Kyle was / is nothing more than a publicity stunt, trying to shake out some investor cash.

HSAT, I would really like to see an American F1 team. Time will tell.

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

You have to have a F1 license to race in F1. Don't have it, don't drive. I don't know what the requirements are, but I'm pretty sure KB or DP do not have F1 lisences! I've met a bunch of the USF1 guys recently, finding a driver is a bit of a trouble for them.

legion · 12-23-2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tervuren

You have to have a F1 license to race in F1. Don't have it, don't drive. I don't know what the requirements are, but I'm pretty sure KB or DP do not have F1 lisences! I've met a bunch of the USF1 guys recently, finding a driver is a bit of a trouble for them.

From a practical standpoint, having a ride in F1 all but guarantees that an individual will be granted a "super license"--unless of course the FIA decides they don't want a certain team to have a certain driver (which I could see happening with a NASCAR crossover).

legion · 12-25-2009, 06:17 PM

If they are smart, they will get their hands on Parker Kligerman.

Look him up.

bell · bell's Garage

they finally got their website up.....
USF1 Team official website - Homepage

take that bernie

herr_oberst · 12-27-2009, 10:40 AM

Check out their supply partners - I never knew that McLaren sold their technology to other race teams, but I guess it should come as no surprise, helps defray the cost of research and development:

tchanson · 12-27-2009, 11:26 AM

McLaren Electronics has had the FIA contract for the shared ECU's used by all F1teams for the last 3 or 4 years, if I recall. A cost saving measure, and also far easier for Charllie Whiting to police just one box for illegal traction control ala Benetton.

I like the USF1 site. Seems a lot of work for a team that suppsoedly won't make the grid.

Not that Bernie's ever had any other half baked theories or ill informed blatherings.

Tim

turbo6bar · 12-27-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

That would be great, but the guy I'd most like to see in F1 would be Tony Stewart. He'd have to get in better shape, but I think he could cut it.

Kyle Busch would probably bring a substantial U.S. crowd back to F1, which is something I'd like to see.

I'd definitely like to see Stewart try F1. I know he's one of the top US drivers. He's fast in anything he pilots.

Don't bash my man, Alonso. He's a good driver. I don't pay attention to the soap opera BS behind the scenes. We pay to see him drive. Nothing more. Nothing less.

yellowperil · 12-27-2009, 12:15 PM

Very encouraging, hope they make it. Two of the best open wheelers ever IMO are right in the thick things every Sunday (Stewart and Montoya) and could still show a lot of F1ers a thing or two. They would give some of the young guys fits in the right car- who knows!