Grand Prix Rejects

This wrote:

Waris wrote:Hoping somebody will buy back the 2015 cars from whoever bought them, or maybe that it turns out to be an enthusiast who simply donates the cars back to the time (not likely, but eh) and they develop them to be ready for at least the 4th race of the season.

Well, those 2015 weren't nearly completed, so it would probably still takes months to complete them. It could make it easier to get a compensation, but i'm not sure if using 2 different chassis during a season is even permitted nowadays?

mrfakeboullier wrote:

f1andrea wrote:source says that Force India, Sauber, Red Bull and Toro Rosso voted against the possibility of use 2014 chassis for 2015 season. The source is not safe, even if some people says that also BBC report this rumors

f1andrea wrote:Red Bull and Toro Rosso

f1andrea wrote:Red Bull and Toro Rosso

East Londoner wrote:This whole sorry situation is exactly why the Strategy Group cannot be trusted to act in F1's own interests. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the teams would rather destroy the entire sport if it meant they could win another title.

DanielPT wrote:Teams are usually selfish but it is a baffling decision as it was a good opportunity to look good without a dent in their own results.

East Londoner wrote:

Backmarker wrote:

East Londoner wrote:

If they still own the IP to the 2015 chassis (not sure about whether that is the case) couldn't they get Stephane Schosse or Dallara or even Caterham Composites to cobble them a chassis together within reasonable amounts of time?

Meatwad wrote:I hope Force India have a terrible season. In fact, I almost hope they fail to make it to Australia. It would serve the hypocrites right.

Wallio wrote:

Meatwad wrote:I hope Force India have a terrible season. In fact, I almost hope they fail to make it to Australia. It would serve the hypocrites right.

This. It seems VJ is the new Stoddart, naming the cars after himself, electing himself "shop-stewart" and generally being a whiney lying arse.

Wallio wrote:It seems VJ is the new Stoddart, naming the cars after himself, electing himself "shop-stewart" and generally being a whiney lying arse.

CoopsII wrote:

Wallio wrote:It seems VJ is the new Stoddart, naming the cars after himself, electing himself "shop-stewart" and generally being a whiney lying arse.

I used to know a guy called Shop Stewart. His job was fitting shelves in shops and his name was Stewart.

Marussia F1 Team facebook page wrote:Following the initiation of the CVA process by Marussia F1 Team administrators FRP Advisory earlier this week, and the confidence this step brings to the process of saving Marussia, the team is now pleased to be able to confirm some of the detail of this process.
- On 17 December 2014, the team made a request to the Strategy Group to consider allowing it to use a 2014 race car, modified to meet certain 2015 regulations, for part of the 2015 season. Following analysis, the team highlighted that this would need some form of dispensation on only a small number of clauses in the Regulations.
- Subsequent to this application, the team was informed on 5 January 2015, that the Strategy Group felt that two teams - Marussia and Caterham - should be permitted to race a 2014 car in the 2015 championship. The letter stated that the Strategy Group agreed that the car should comply with all of the 2015 technical regulations, with the exception of four articles, those articles being Articles 3.7.9, 15.4.3, 15.4.4 and 16.2. The team can confirm that the modifications to its 2014 car would meet this stipulation.
- A change to the Regulations at this stage does require unanimous consent from all teams and following the initiation of the CVA process, the team is now actively engaged in achieving this. This process involves providing all relevant information to the teams to allow them to fully consider its request.
- As the press release from FRP Advisory of 4 February states, given the confidential nature of the negotiations underway, neither they nor the team are able to provide further details regarding the team’s new investors, however those investors have either met with or spoken to the key F1 bodies.
- The team has been busy preparing its 2014 cars such that they comply with the stipulations of the Strategy Group and at the same time it is pressing on with the development of its 2015 car to ensure it can supersede the 2014 car as soon as possible.
- The team has a significant number of staff already working on both its 2014 and 2015 cars. It also has the benefit of being able to recruit further staff very quickly from the rich pool of experienced and talented F1 personnel who were left unemployed following the closure of Marussia and Caterham and due to job cuts made by other teams in the sport.
Commenting on the team’s progress, and also comments emerging from yesterday’s F1 Strategy Group meeting in Paris, Graeme Lowdon, a representative of the team, said:
“It has been a very good step to finally get the CVA process underway this week. This is the first external sign that we have been able to make of all the hard work that has taken place privately over the past four months to get us to our current position.
“I was surprised to hear some of the comments made today, particularly regarding an application we were said to have made to yesterday’s meeting, which I can confirm was not the case. We did make a request on 17 December last year and we have been working since to satisfy the requirements subsequently communicated to us, specifically complying with all the Regulations, aside from the exempted articles.
“The comments also mentioned that issues of compliance were raised, that it was felt that our application lacked substance and contained no supporting documentation to reinforce the case for offering special dispensation. Again, we did not make any application to yesterday’s Strategy Group meeting and nor were we asked to.
“Instead, we are proceeding with our clear process regarding compliance and building our operation. We are doing everything possible to adhere to the process set out for us to return to the 2015 grid. This is a fantastic good news story for the whole sport and we just want to go racing.”

CoopsII wrote:

DanielPT wrote:Teams are usually selfish but it is a baffling decision as it was a good opportunity to look good without a dent in their own results.

At first, I felt some sympathy as I thought perhaps Mallya believed having Marussia on the grid would possibly prevent his already struggling team earning some points money. And that being the case why should his struggling team help another struggling team when the wealthier ones do f**k all. But, as you point out, Marussia are highly unlikely to finish before Force India, barring flukes, so this is a baffling and depressing decision.

Wallio wrote:Very confusing, but ultimately great news. NBC is reporting they "aren't dead yet" and seem to be reporting that West Force India, not Marussia, brought up the team's situation yesterday, and that the Facebook posting is a basically a "F-U" to them.

Dj_bereta wrote:Williams did exactly the same with Pro Drive years ago.

Captain Hammer wrote:

Dj_bereta wrote:Williams did exactly the same with Pro Drive years ago.

But that was for customer cars.

mario wrote:

CoopsII wrote:

DanielPT wrote:Teams are usually selfish but it is a baffling decision as it was a good opportunity to look good without a dent in their own results.

At first, I felt some sympathy as I thought perhaps Mallya believed having Marussia on the grid would possibly prevent his already struggling team earning some points money. And that being the case why should his struggling team help another struggling team when the wealthier ones do f**k all. But, as you point out, Marussia are highly unlikely to finish before Force India, barring flukes, so this is a baffling and depressing decision.

Judging by some of the comments Bob Fernley has made, it seems that Force India had 4 million reasons for voting against the move given that they would make £4 million more if Marussia couldn't compete.

Mind you, it is a dangerous game for Force India to play - the fewer small teams there are, then the harder it will be for them to fight their corner (especially if Force India's financial situation is as dire as is being reported) if they have killed off all of their potential allies.

Captain Hammer wrote:I'm actually quite disgusted by Force India's actions here. As the highest-placed non-permanent member of the Strategy Working Group, they were in a position to represent the interests of smaller teams, and took the position that smaller teams should be supported. But as soon as they are put in a position to make good on that, they reject the proposal because it suits their own interests.

The teams have worked long and hard to position themselves as the universal good guys, suffering from autocratic rulers who needlessly meddle in the sport's affairs. It's a populist line to take, since it tallies with fan opinion, but here Force India have exposed the lie for what it is. The will be a chorus of calls from the teams to act in the interests of the sport, but when push comes to shove, they will act in their own interests. I genuinely believe that many of the problems in the sport can be traced back to this.

Rob Dylan wrote:My only comment at this time is that Force India must be doing pretty badly at this point to fear the presence of Manor F1 Team in any way, shape or form.

Henrique wrote:http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/321803/minardi-hits-out-at-unsportsmanlike-teams/

Even Giancarlo Minardi is expressing his opinion.

AdrianBelmonte_ wrote:

Rob Dylan wrote:My only comment at this time is that Force India must be doing pretty badly at this point to fear the presence of Manor F1 Team in any way, shape or form.

#IndianAndreaModa

Henrique wrote:http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/321803/minardi-hits-out-at-unsportsmanlike-teams/

Even Giancarlo Minardi is expressing his opinion.

- everything is according to the plan, work on the car is on schedule and they are aiming for Melbourne start with MR03B and MNR01/MR04 introduced later this season
- Manor F1 team will compete as Manor Marussia F1 Team
- the main investor behind it all is Stephen Fitzpatrick of Ovo Energy
- Will Stevens is signed to drive the car

Pointrox wrote:Quite a lot of things happened since the last time
Now we know that:

- everything is according to the plan, work on the car is on schedule and they are aiming for Melbourne start with MR04B
- Manor F1 team will compete as Manor Marussia F1 Team
- the main investor behind it all is Stephen Fitzpatrick of Ovo Energy
- Will Stevens is signed to drive the car

Frogfoot9013 wrote:I doubt Chilton will be driving for them, he seems set on the States with Carlin in Indy Lights, and I expect the two to head for IndyCar if they do well there. I'd say Mehri is most likely to get the Manor seat.

BBC wrote:Sources say Fitzpatrick has had a long-time passion for F1 and desire to get involved.

He had originally been looking at a venture in Formula E, the new all-electric series that is racing in city centres around the world.

But when Marussia went into administration in October he saw an opportunity to become involved in F1. The deal has come together in the intervening four months.

Simtek wrote:

Frogfoot9013 wrote:I doubt Chilton will be driving for them, he seems set on the States with Carlin in Indy Lights, and I expect the two to head for IndyCar if they do well there. I'd say Mehri is most likely to get the Manor seat.

It won't be the same without Max