HRT has dropped Senna

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:22

There's some reports around that HRT may have dropped Senna in favour of Sakon Yamamoto from the British GP on. No official confirmation in Autosport or F1.com as I write this.

Assuming it's true: if you are in F1 and can't make money out of a young man called Senna, who by the way is the very spitting image of his late and great uncle, then let me tell you: pack up and go home, you are a farce.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:28

BBC Sport have the article up already, seems they've already got hold of Kolles...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8802712.stm

I've already posted this in the Britsh GP Discussion thread too.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:32

For it to happen this close to the race their must be money involved. A pay driver and some hastily printed stickers coming to an HRT near you very soon...

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:35

Seems pretty definite.

Mario has posted Joe Saward's blog in the silly season thread. (The Capt. will be livid!)

& Reject's finest Alianora has also tweeted the same info.

Seems money is very much at the back of it.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:39

Autosport now reporting Sakon Yamamoto has the drive for Silverstone only at this stage.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:40

YAMAMOTO (also in British GP discussion thread...)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85082

mediocre · Post by **mediocre** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:43

Thumbs down. This is embarassing, I'd love to see Senna's career going on because I don't think he's that bad and now they're giving it to some Japanese bloke (even though he's rejectful).

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:47

HRT: Rejected.

Maybe Senna could take over Schumacher's seat? No? :mrgreen:

Debaser · Post by **Debaser** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:50

Pathetic move really - though brings up the posibility of Sakon's head flying off through Copse and Stowe (Bridge I believe has been modified so can't happen there)

Mister Fungus · Post by **Mister Fungus** » 08 Jul 2010, 19:56

Excellent news for all lovers of rejectfullness . :oops:

Enforcer · Post by **Enforcer** » 08 Jul 2010, 20:34

My guess is whoever's behind Sakon found a few hundred thousand dollars/pounds/euro/yen/whatever behind their sofa this week...

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 08 Jul 2010, 21:03

Same as in the "2010 British Grand Prix Discussion" thread: bathplug!

Mister Fungus · Post by **Mister Fungus** » 08 Jul 2010, 23:31

So will he drive in the Bruno liveried car or can they change the livery easily?

So terrible, terrible and awesome at the same time.

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 09 Jul 2010, 00:18

Mister Fungus wrote:So will he drive in the Bruno liveried car or can they change the livery easily?

So terrible, terrible and awesome at the same time.

Well, SAKON fits in terms of length. Also, am I a bad person when I say I'm okay with this, the more rejectness, the better!

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 09 Jul 2010, 01:27

He's only got one race for the time being. But I still have to wonder what HRT are thnking - surely the smart move would be to ditch Chandhok for one race?

AussieV8 · Post by **AussieV8** » 09 Jul 2010, 02:00

Just think, if Bruno never gets another F1 drive, the name "Senna" gets added to the list of F1 rejects!

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 09 Jul 2010, 03:26

AussieV8 wrote:Just think, if Bruno never gets another F1 drive, the name "Senna" gets added to the list of F1 rejects!

I bet the two webmasters of this forum were heartbroken when they had to add the Brabham name to the list of rejects at first...

AussieV8 · Post by **AussieV8** » 09 Jul 2010, 06:28

kostas22 wrote:
AussieV8 wrote:Just think, if Bruno never gets another F1 drive, the name "Senna" gets added to the list of F1 rejects!

I bet the two webmasters of this forum were heartbroken when they had to add the Brabham name to the list of rejects at first...

Although the Brabhams were probably rejects before this site was created

coops · Post by **coops** » 09 Jul 2010, 06:44

This doesnt bode well for Bruno despite the claims its just for one race. Sometimes what starts off as for one race becomes more than one. And Kolles and Yamamoto have known each other for a while wheras Senna was sort of inherited from the Campos deal. If he does get binned perhaps Lotus will see the marketing opportunity and replace Trulli?

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 09 Jul 2010, 06:59

What a bizarre turn of events.

I know it's been hard for either Hispnaia driver to make an impression, but it's difficult to believe anybody would be able to do much better in that car. Least of all Yamamoto.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 09 Jul 2010, 07:09

Paul Hayes wrote:What a bizarre turn of events.

I know it's been hard for either Hispnaia driver to make an impression, but it's difficult to believe anybody would be able to do much better in that car. Least of all Yamamoto.

It's not better, at this point. It's about making it to next year.

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 09 Jul 2010, 07:25

Ffffff....

I couldn't believe my eyes.

Somebody please sign up Senna!! C'mon, with that name there must be possibilities with any team looking for drivers, such as the new 13th team (if it will even be there) next season... But here's hoping he drives more this year. I thought he was interesting and wanted to see more of him!

Also, as insane as it is, this means that for the first time ever I'm NOT happy to see Yamamoto-kun back in a race cockpit...

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 09 Jul 2010, 07:28

thehemogoblin wrote:
Paul Hayes wrote:What a bizarre turn of events.

I know it's been hard for either Hispnaia driver to make an impression, but it's difficult to believe anybody would be able to do much better in that car. Least of all Yamamoto.

It's not better, at this point. It's about making it to next year.

Exactly. What people must understand is that whatever publiocrap comes out of HRT over this weekend, the simple fact is they need cash and quickly. Senna hasn't done a bad job, he's given his all in a rubbish car, as has Chandhok, but what the Indian brings in terms of personal financing is probably greater than what Senna's Embratel backing is currently providing. So all in all the team have to axe one of them, and the logical answer is the one paying the least amount.

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 09 Jul 2010, 07:38

So exactly what sponsors does Yamamoto bring? I vaguely remember a picture with PIAA on his cap, but I've never seen any of his personal sponsors on a car that he drove.

Debaser · Post by **Debaser** » 09 Jul 2010, 07:39

Albers is apparently waiting in the wings as well for a HRT drive, he's got a few Dutch sponsors who might pay for him to get a seat.

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 09 Jul 2010, 07:40

Debaser wrote:Albers is apparently waiting in the wings as well for a HRT drive, he's got a few Dutch sponsors who might pay for him to get a seat.

Oh Jiminy Cricket, this is going to be the League of Kolles Assorted Reject Drivers...

Post by **mario** » 09 Jul 2010, 08:56

Although I had hoped that the news reports would be wrong, Kolles has rather unceremoniously dumped (a rather distraught) Bruno Senna. I feel sorry for him, because he only just made it into F1, but he has shown that he is capable of a solid result in a car which holds together, even if he hasn't blown Chandhok away, as many were expecting.
Unfortunately, it has to be said, Bruno Senna seems to have had the worse reliability problems - if you look at his results, his engine overheated in Bahrein, his hydraulics gave up after 4 laps in Australia, in Monaco he was driving with a damaged chassis, hence his slow times, and again his hydraulic system failed, in Turkey his fuel pump failed and in Canada his gearbox failed. Only in Spain did he fail to finish due to an accident.

Overall, though, this is about money - everybody knows that is the real reason for this change. HRT only just made it onto the grid, thanks to that last minute bail-out, but they have been looking decidedly frail since then. Their only hope is to make it until the end of the season, since FOM has created a special funding arrangement for the new teams, and if HRT can hold on until then, that fund might be enough for them to survive. When pure survival instincts take over, as has been rightly observed, it is the driver with the least money who gets kicked first, and unfortunately, Bruno Senna hasn't been able to bring that many sponsors in (it seems that most Brazilian organisations are more interested in Massa, because he nearly became champion). Sadly, that means that he is getting pushed aside for a good old fashioned pay driver. And although Kolles indicates that it is for one race only, I doubt Bruno Senna will be back in the seat unless he can find a few million in sponsorship over the next few weeks to buy his seat back.

Waris wrote:
Debaser wrote:Albers is apparently waiting in the wings as well for a HRT drive, he's got a few Dutch sponsors who might pay for him to get a seat.

Oh Jiminy Cricket, this is going to be the League of Kolles Assorted Reject Drivers...

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if that happens - although Chandhok was said to be bringing around $8 million to the team in terms of sponsorship (compared to $2.5 million from Senna), Chandhok's money is rumoured to be starting to run low, and he has struggled to find more sponsors. It is sad enough that Bruno is going, but Chandhok would be a real shame (and given that Chandhok was getting on so well with Senna, he must be a bit upset by the news - as well as fearful of his own seat), because he is such a nice guy, as well as being fairly competent.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 09 Jul 2010, 09:08

Does Kolles realize he just doomed HRT to failure? All the teams that Yamamoto has driven for are no longer on the grid, at least in their original guise. Now the most HRT can hope for is to be bought.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 09 Jul 2010, 09:19

My summary of the situation is as follows:
HRT... now also known as the Kolin Kolles institute for pay drivers.

Sad that it had to be Senna that got the chop but as other people have said if they are to make it to next season Kolles probably had little if any other choice.

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 09 Jul 2010, 10:20

The former Campos team has now almost completely turned into the Kolles team, with only the Dallara chassis remaining from the original entry.

HRT's main goal obviously is to make it to next season and be able to continue onwards. Given their machinery and development abilities (or lack thereof), the only chance they seem to have are pay drivers. So it's very understandable that sponsorship trouble equals a drive getting lost.

Now let's hope for the best for the future and have a toast.
Forza Sakon!
The most unexpected comeback this season: it makes the Silverstone race worth watching, especially given the fact that we will see a lot of him when he's being lapped.

jackanderton · Post by **jackanderton** » 09 Jul 2010, 10:35

Whatever else surprising news happens today, I doubt it'll top this!

Henrique · Post by **Henrique** » 09 Jul 2010, 11:34

Damn, a few days without paying attention to F1 and this happens. As it's been stated on a F1 Rejects season review, Yamamoto already showed he's not good enough for F1. HRT must be really desperate to pull a move like this.

Oh look, Yamamoto was one second slower than Chandhok at the first practice.

coops · Post by **coops** » 09 Jul 2010, 12:26

jackanderton wrote:Whatever else surprising news happens today, I doubt it'll top this!

What if Villeneuve signs for HRT?

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 09 Jul 2010, 12:51

Motorsport.com/GMM might not be the most reliable source, but this article claims that Senna was not dropped for financial reasons. And given that the team seems to be delaying the statement as to why he is sitting Silverstone out, I think we can rule out some kind of injury or illness.

I do have a theory about this though.

There is and has been talk that Hispania is up for sale. Most of it is idle talk and it's usually been put to bed with the usual denials pretty quickly, but the niggling rumour is still there. Given Kolles' close association with Audi in both Le Mans and DTM in recent years, there was talk that Hispania might be a vessel for getting Volkswagen involved in the team, and that Hispania Racing would simply be a placeholder to reserve the stop for VW when they want in. However, Volkswagen have said they won't be interested until the new engine regulations are released, and that is expected to be happening for 2013. If the team is in danger of being sold - if Hispania does a Jordan/Midland/Spyker/Force India do-se-do - that could create instability within the team itself. There would be very little work getting done, and that would be frustrating for a driver. Maybe Senna walked of his own volition to protect his reputation and maybe pick up a seat for 2011. Lotus, anyone?

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 09 Jul 2010, 12:57

Well if that is the case then why didn't they put Klien in the car instead?

Mister Fungus · Post by **Mister Fungus** » 09 Jul 2010, 13:54

Captain Hammer wrote:There is and has been talk that Hispania is up for sale. Most of it is idle talk and it's usually been put to bed with the usual denials pretty quickly, but the niggling rumour is still there. Given Kolles' close association with Audi in both Le Mans and DTM in recent years, there was talk that Hispania might be a vessel for getting Volkswagen involved in the team, and that Hispania Racing would simply be a placeholder to reserve the stop for VW when they want in. However, Volkswagen have said they won't be interested until the new engine regulations are released, and that is expected to be happening for 2013. If the team is in danger of being sold - if Hispania does a Jordan/Midland/Spyker/Force India do-se-do - that could create instability within the team itself. There would be very little work getting done, and that would be frustrating for a driver. Maybe Senna walked of his own volition to protect his reputation and maybe pick up a seat for 2011. Lotus, anyone?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85110

This puts that theory down the drain.

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 09 Jul 2010, 13:57

According to the BBC commentary team, citing a statement by HRT, Senna has only been 'rested' for this one race & will be back for the German GP.
No reason was given for the change other than Kolles saying they wanted to give Yamamoto a chance in the car.
All rather odd. Wonder if that really is the end of the matter.

Edit: Really should have read Mister Fungus link before posting....

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 09 Jul 2010, 14:19

That has to be a relief for Bruno, though generally disappointing for me as I wanted to watch Bruno race live this weekend. Ah well.

Post by **mario** » 09 Jul 2010, 15:44

eagleash wrote:According to the BBC commentary team, citing a statement by HRT, Senna has only been 'rested' for this one race & will be back for the German GP.
No reason was given for the change other than Kolles saying they wanted to give Yamamoto a chance in the car.
All rather odd. Wonder if that really is the end of the matter.

Edit: Really should have read Mister Fungus link before posting....

OK, so I was wrong in saying that I expected Bruno Senna to be pushed out of his seat for the whole season - but this whole saga just gets more and more confusing as time goes on. We know that Bruno Senna is at the circuit today, along with his manager, and there had been no reports of health problems beforehand. Fitness shouldn't be critical just yet, given that he was racing in GP2 last year, which should have helped him prepare for F1 this season - after all, it hasn't caused Chandhok any problems, nor Petrov or Hulkenberg, who are some of the recent GP2 graduates.

The press release from HRT doesn't clear up much - giving Yamamoto an 'opportunity', as they put it, seems weird - why, if you are satisfied with your main driver, would you put a different driver into a car he is still getting familiar with, at a circuit which he would only partially know (OK, it is a problem for everyone - but surely putting him in at somewhere like, say, Barcelona, which is well known from testing, would have made more sense), at a time when Senna's confidence must be being battered by continual reliability problems. And why would you make the announcement so late in the day?

I hate to say this, but at the moment, Yamamoto is hopeless - he is 1.3 seconds off Chandhok's pace, and Davidson was very worried about the fact that Yamamoto was already having to rest his head against the sides of the cockpit barely halfway through the second practise session, indicating that his neck muscles are already giving him problems.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 09 Jul 2010, 16:18

mario wrote:I hate to say this, but at the moment, Yamamoto is hopeless - he is 1.3 seconds off Chandhok's pace, and Davidson was very worried about the fact that Yamamoto was already having to rest his head against the sides of the cockpit barely halfway through the second practise session, indicating that his neck muscles are already giving him problems.

You're bathplugging kidding me! :lol: