The HRT thread

[Peter]

HRT seem to have an issue with hiring and then firing indian drivers. But I think no offence to NK, but I think Daniel is a young and talented Australian who in the 2010 after season testing for Red Bull was the fastest in all the tests. Maybe HRT did the right thing for a change.

Well, he was in a Red Bull.

Perhaps HRT are loosening themselves up and now trying to get themselves a more explosive lineup, and they don't think they need the experience Narain provides, as much as before. It's a shame for Narain, but maybe he will still run in FP sessions, or come back in the car sometime later in the year apart from India. Or better yet, remain as a reserve driver for the coming years.

In regards to firing Indian drivers, the reason behind Karun was I believe because his sponsors weren't paying up what they were supposed to, and since Yamamoto was sitting and waiting, with a big wad of cash, HRT in desperate trouble, practically had no choice.

But Webber is in a Red Bull so why isnt we winning? I personally think its a good think as look at Alonso 10 years ago in 2001 Minardi just 20 years old. Small underfunded team beating the Arrows Prost and the odd times the Benetton.

There is so much that we would have to take into account regarding Webber's lackluster performances as opposed to Vettel's dominance. It could include:
-The RB7 not fitting Webber as well as the RB6 did
-Bias to Vettel within the team
-Age and motivation
-Perhaps another injury he's kept under the radar, or maybe he's not fully recovered from the one from last year

You can branch off of each of those mario style and take it into the middle of next week, but the reasons behind Webber not matching Vettel at any corner are a lot more complicated than we think.

[Aerospeed]

Fact: on that basis, Mark Webber is destined to win the British GP (he said, dreaming).

Unless if you're mistaken

[Peter]

Fact: on that basis, Mark Webber is destined to win the British GP (he said, dreaming).

Unless if you're mistaken

Well, off throttle EBD's get limited from Silverstone on, and Webber's driving style made him beat Vettel last year until the off throttle EBD got implemented into the RB6. Dear God, I hope eyti is right

[Bleu]

Fact: it is Daniel Ricciardo's birthday today. "Happy birthday, here, have an HRT drive."

Fact: Silverstone will be the first GP since the 1977 Dutch GP that two Australians have attempted to qualify. (Vern Schuppan DNQed in that event.)

Fact: The last GP that saw two Aussies start was the 1977 Austrian GP.

Fact: Alan Jones won the 1977 Austrian GP. It was his first ever Grand Prix victory.

Fact: on that basis, Mark Webber is destined to win the British GP (he said, dreaming).

Since Webber has already won GP, Jones took his first victory there doesn't that mean that Daniel Ricciardo is going to win British GP. And HRT is never going to win again.

[1993DonningtonNo1]

I wonder what Karun Chandhok's thinking about all of this....

[Ferrim]

The Whole Spanish Press (well, actually only one journalist) is reporting that the Hispania team might have been sold to an unknown enterprise with support from the Japanese Nomura Bank. It says it should be announced tomorrow.

The source is not the most trustworthy (Diario AS), but the particular journalist who reports it's relatively good, so let's wait and see what happens.

[mario]

The Whole Spanish Press (well, actually only one journalist) is reporting that the Hispania team might have been sold to an unknown enterprise with support from the Japanese Nomura Bank. It says it should be announced tomorrow.

The source is not the most trustworthy (Diario AS), but the particular journalist who reports it's relatively good, so let's wait and see what happens.

Interesting - it might be true, considering the recent changes in the management team (with, for example, Kolles announcing that he'll be scaling back his duties with the team), and the rumours that the Carabantes family were looking for a way to repay the loan they took on to purchase the team. Of course, as you say, for now we have to wait and see if another more reputable source can verify or repudiate the story - more than once even the more reputable sources have been hoodwinked, so you have to take these stories for now with a pinch of salt.

IF, and for now it is a big if, the team has been sold, then who is the buyer? After all, Carabantes doesn't actually own a great deal beyond the crucial licence for a grid slot, since most of the actual team (i.e. the personnel and equipment) is owned by Kolles or purchased in from outside (e.g. the Carbotech chassis). I wonder if perhaps one of the unsuccessful past bidders for a grid slot has decided to get around the FIA by buying into an existing team instead, or whether we're seeing something similar to Red Bull's take over of Minardi (i.e. somebody buying them out to form a junior team)?

[dr-baker]

IF, and for now it is a big if, the team has been sold, then who is the buyer? After all, Carabantes doesn't actually own a great deal beyond the crucial licence for a grid slot, since most of the actual team (i.e. the personnel and equipment) is owned by Kolles or purchased in from outside (e.g. the Carbotech chassis). I wonder if perhaps one of the unsuccessful past bidders for a grid slot has decided to get around the FIA by buying into an existing team instead, or whether we're seeing something similar to Red Bull's take over of Minardi (i.e. somebody buying them out to form a junior team)?

If it is a previously unsuccessful team, I'm hoping for US F1 or Stefan GP!

[S951]

stefan gp would be a huge laugh, dream would be return for super aguri

[dr-baker]

stefan gp would be a huge laugh, dream would be return for simtek

Sorted.

[eagleash]

JS is reporting that the Banco Popular (who control the shares Carabante pledged when borrowing the money to run the team) have sold their interest to Nomura. What changes they will make remains to be seen. As previously noted a formal announcement is expected tomorrow.

(To stop The Capt. imploding, JS does say "Sold"..."question mark")

[Captain Hammer]

Eh, I'll believe it when it happens. HRT are always being linked to one buy-out or another.

[sswishbone]

If Nomura have bought the team, key word, if... Could we see a sato/yamomoto pairing for next season? :p

[DanielPT]

This might mark the return of the Japanese into F1. Perhaps pave the way for a Japanese car manufacturer to enter F1 by taking over HRT. If this comes to fruition, I would hope that, following the general lines of the current team, the elected manufacturer is either Daihatsu or Isuzu...

[GwilymJJames]

Thesan Capital acquire a significant shareholding in Spanish Formula 1 team Hispania Racing

2011-07-04


• The Spanish firm becomes the main shareholder of Grupo Inversor Hispania, current owner of the Formula 1 team.

• The objective of Thesan Capital is, maintaining the current team, to develop its strategy to grow in a market with a lot of potential for the upcoming years.


Thesan Capital has reached an agreement by which it has acquired a majority shareholding in Grupo Inversor Hispania from José Ramón Carabante. Grupo Inversor Hispania is the main shareholder of Hispania Racing, owner of the sole Formula 1 license in Spain, under which Hispania Racing races. Thesan Capital thus becomes the controlling shareholder of the Spanish Formula 1 team.

The Spanish investment group will lead the development of Hispania Racing in the upcoming years, maintaining the current team and directors, which is one of the main assets of the company, and will try to develop and search for opportunities to optimize and improve the performance of the team in the upcoming seasons, alongside progressively making the team more Spanish and definitively settling the team in Spain.

The Thesan Capital team, who consider the acquisition of Hispania Racing as an opportunity to enter a sector with great prospects of growing, will work with the aim of strengthening the strategic management of the group.

About Hispania Racing

Hispania Racing, led until now by José Ramón Carabante, became, after making its debut in Bahrain in March of 2010, the first Spanish team in history to take part in the Formula 1 World Championship. After 19 races, the Spanish team was able to finish the Constructors Championship in eleventh place.

Hispania Racing’s official drivers since the start of the season have been Indian Narain Karthikeyan and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi. Young driver Daniel Ricciardo has recently joined the team after the collaboration deal signed between Hispania Racing and Red Bull Racing.


About Thesan Capital

Thesan Capital forms in 2008 as a platform to develop investment opportunities such as “Principal Investor”, undertaking investments both as single investor and investing alongside its group of co-investors interested in the Iberian market.

Thesan Capital focuses on opportunities in all sectors with a general approach. It does not invest in “start-ups”. It carries out control investments, both in companies with a solid base that need a strong strategic reshuffle linked with an operational and/or financial restructure, and in traditional LBO’s (“leveraged buyouts”)with equity tickets worth more than 50 million euros, in public and private debt, through its alliance with Pamplona Capital Management. The firm has ample experience in complex and special situations.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Looks like Carabante (sort of) pulled it off afterall.

[Peter]

Ahh, so I'm gonna say this again. Lotus, your days are numbered


Seriously though, it'd be interesting to see what they mean by making the team more Spanish. Hopefully they'll paint the white yellow to look like the Spanish flag. Maybe Alguersuari can join them if STR's joke of a driver management actually replace him at STR. And it'd be interesting to see how much more money they pump into HRT.

[Ferrim]

Just in case: what has been sold is "Grupo Hispania", a company owned (until now) by Carabante. Of course this company is the main and probably only shareholder of the racing team, so the team is among the assets sold.

[cbbcisace]

I know this is speculation on my part, do we expect Hispania to announce a technical tie up in the not to near future?

I know they was using Williams technology this year, but they need a Mercedes or Lotus Renault tie up to become 2nd teams to them me thinks if the team want to move forward.

Hopefully the new owners can see the light!

[GroupLotusRenault]

.

But Webber is in a Red Bull so why isnt we winning? I personally think its a good think as look at Alonso 10 years ago in 2001 Minardi just 20 years old. Small underfunded team beating the Arrows Prost and the odd times the Benetton.

There is so much that we would have to take into account regarding Webber's lackluster performances as opposed to Vettel's dominance. It could include:
-The RB7 not fitting Webber as well as the RB6 did
-Bias to Vettel within the team
-Age and motivation
-Perhaps another injury he's kept under the radar, or maybe he's not fully recovered from the one from last year

You can branch off of each of those mario style and take it into the middle of next week, but the reasons behind Webber not matching Vettel at any corner are a lot more complicated than we think.[/quote]

Dont fully agree with that. Webber might be on form of this life, but Vettel being 11 years younger has found a extra confidents in him being world champion. I dont believe Red Bull are giving Vettel extra help because look at the Spanish GP Webber on pole with KERS Vettel second less then 0.100 off webber without KERS.

[David AGS]

Back to Ricciardo

Theres a little bit of interest in Australia, but they dont like to use the word HRT, they jus tmention a small team at the back of the grid. I guess If they say HRT it may mean the Holden Racing Team which is a works team in our V8 Touring Car Championship.

But its all positive nice words comming from Webber, and it seems all good.

The only thing on sports radio is they mention Daniel Ricardo, mmm thants not how you say it, its RICCIARDO.

Anyway, best of luck mate.

I wonder if there will be any livery changes or extra decals on the HRT (Hispania Racing Team)

[solarcold]

Do you remember the Narain's comeback about Massa's complains about him? the "this comes from the one who's seat is under threat"
im not making fun of this, but who knew how will it turn...

[DanielPT]

Do you remember the Narain's comeback about Massa's complains about him? the "this comes from the one who's seat is under threat"
im not making fun of this, but who knew how will it turn...

That really backfired on him hard. I'm sure Massa have something to say about that!

[billy]

First pic of Ricciardo in Hispania overalls, complete with several Red Bull logos:



I wonder if the car will carry any RB sponsorship.

[solarcold]

I wonder if the car will carry any RB sponsorship.

me sincerely, I hope not. don't want to see hrt as another toro rosso dominion

[DanielPT]

I wonder if the car will carry any RB sponsorship.

me sincerely, I hope not. don't want to see hrt as another toro rosso dominion

Give it a few years and everyone at the paddock will be related to Red Bull somehow. And this is not just from drinking Red Bull.

[DanielPT]

I wonder if the car will carry any RB sponsorship.

me sincerely, I hope not. don't want to see hrt as another toro rosso dominion

Give it a few years and everyone at the paddock will be related to Red Bull somehow . And this is not just from drinking Red Bull.

[dr-baker]

I wonder if the car will carry any RB sponsorship.

me sincerely, I hope not. don't want to see hrt as another toro rosso dominion

Give it a few years and everyone at the paddock will be related to Red Bull somehow. And this is not just from drinking Red Bull.

Well, Sauber used to have Red Bull sponsorship, Red Bull and Toro Rosso currently do, HRT have a Red Bull driver... That's already a third of the teams.

[billy]

I wonder if the car will carry any RB sponsorship.

In answer to my own question, it appears not:

[AndreaModa]

I wonder if the car will carry any RB sponsorship.

me sincerely, I hope not. don't want to see hrt as another toro rosso dominion

Give it a few years and everyone at the paddock will be related to Red Bull somehow. And this is not just from drinking Red Bull.

Go back to the mid 80s right into the early 90s and almost every team had some small influence from Marlboro in it. Red Bull is the 21st Century's Marlboro, that's all. If Hispania were to have Red Bull sponsorship on their car, it would only be small logos, just like how the small Marlboro logos used to be I'd imagine.

[mario]

Go back to the mid 80s right into the early 90s and almost every team had some small influence from Marlboro in it. Red Bull is the 21st Century's Marlboro, that's all. If Hispania were to have Red Bull sponsorship on their car, it would only be small logos, just like how the small Marlboro logos used to be I'd imagine.

That said, whilst Marlboro cigarettes had substantial involvement with the sport, it was in the role of an outside investor. The situation with Red Bull is a little different because Red Bull is not just an outside investor, but also a team owner (with commercial links, via Red Bull Technologies, to Toro Rosso, and a commercial partnership with Team Lotus for a transmission system).

OK, it must be said that it is probably no more dominant than any other outfit - like McLaren, which has an existing technical partnership with Force India and now agreeing to run a similar program with Virgin Racing - but, even so, it is a sign of the increasing influence that the team has within the sport, seeing that it has effectively forced one pay driver out of HRT for one of their choosing.

[David AGS]

BTW is that a new engine cover?

I may (most likely) be a bit outdated, but the previous one's sidepods were more of an 'L' shape,this one a smaller rectangular shape

[Peter]

Go back to the mid 80s right into the early 90s and almost every team had some small influence from Marlboro in it. Red Bull is the 21st Century's Marlboro, that's all. If Hispania were to have Red Bull sponsorship on their car, it would only be small logos, just like how the small Marlboro logos used to be I'd imagine.

That said, whilst Marlboro cigarettes had substantial involvement with the sport, it was in the role of an outside investor. The situation with Red Bull is a little different because Red Bull is not just an outside investor, but also a team owner (with commercial links, via Red Bull Technologies, to Toro Rosso, and a commercial partnership with Team Lotus for a transmission system).

OK, it must be said that it is probably no more dominant than any other outfit - like McLaren, which has an existing technical partnership with Force India and now agreeing to run a similar program with Virgin Racing - but, even so, it is a sign of the increasing influence that the team has within the sport, seeing that it has effectively forced one pay driver out of HRT for one of their choosing.

I must say though, Red Bull are paying Hispania for Daniel's seat, and it must be more than they were getting for Karthikeyan, otherwise, they probably wouldn't have put him in full time. So it may be around 5 million or maybe even more that they are getting for having Riccardo.

I'm hoping that Daniel can instantly be close to Tonio, that would certainly be good for him and them, but there is a chance, being new to the relative dog of a car HRT, that he may not qualify.

[David AGS]

At least both HRT'S are on the grid.

They look a step behind the Virgin team though, and they did say this circuit dont suit them.

If it rains though, could be interesting!

[mario]

At least both HRT'S are on the grid.

They look a step behind the Virgin team though, and they did say this circuit dont suit them.

If it rains though, could be interesting!

It's plausible that we could see passing showers hit the circuit, as the BBC's weather service does say that there may be heavy showers of rain in the late afternoon.

Still, I must say that Ricciardo has done a fairly solid job this weekend - the constantly varying weather conditions must have made it hard to get used to the behaviour of the car, and it's not easy to be suddenly thrust into a new team halfway through the season, so to have gone out there, kept the car out of the barriers (we saw how Kobayashi smashed his car to bits in FP1) and qualified on the grid is a good effort.

[Peter]

So, no new upgrades on their car this race, despite them saying they were bringing in a big new package. Maybe next time then.

Good job by Daniel, clean weekend, and basically did what Karthikeyan would do, make it in and keep it clean.

[cbbcisace]

http://www.ts.fi/moottoriurheilu/f1/237778.html

Hispania will move to England after buying a empty Brackley Factory + Dani Close to become a 2012 driver.

[Klon]

Has way too much vowels to be true...

[DonTirri]

http://www.ts.fi/moottoriurheilu/f1/237778.html

Hispania will move to England after buying a empty Brackley Factory + Dani Close to become a 2012 driver.

Eh, I wouldn't trust Turun Sanomat so openly. I'll wait and see.

[Peter]

http://www.ts.fi/moottoriurheilu/f1/237778.html

Hispania will move to England after buying a empty Brackley Factory + Dani Close to become a 2012 driver.

Eh, I wouldn't trust Turun Sanomat so openly. I'll wait and see.

This. People like this may be just be throwing crap at us to generate more page views. Plus, why would they be moving to England if the new investors want to make the team more Spanish?