Grand Prix Rejects

"It goes without saying that I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to race in Formula 1 for the first time."

"I cannot thank the Marussia F1 Team enough for the faith they are demonstrating in me.

"It's a very big moment for me and there's a lot to prepare in a short space of time, but on the other hand I have felt ready for this for quite a while now.

"It is also exciting to be given this opportunity at such a fantastic and historical circuit as Spa-Francorchamps. I can't wait to drive the MR03 from tomorrow and I hope to reward the team with a solid race weekend."

dr-baker wrote:...But it ain't gonna happen around here. Is it? Or will it?

Wallio wrote:

dr-baker wrote:...But it ain't gonna happen around here. Is it? Or will it?

Starts gathering Red, white, and Blue glowsticks. Oh yes it will!


But what does Don Pentecost have to say?

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:TIME TO CELEBRATE BEFORE THAT KENYAN COMMIE OBAMA TAKES AWAY OUR GUNS.

Boomstick wrote:

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:TIME TO CELEBRATE BEFORE THAT KENYAN COMMIE OBAMA TAKES AWAY OUR GUNS.

...I think they call him 0BAMA...

This wrote:Rossi Revolution!

AndreaModa wrote:

dr-baker wrote:Hmmm, an all-night rave that's over by morning. Quite apt really, don'tcha think?

Vassago wrote:Gene Haas will save this thread one day

novitopoli wrote:The question is: will Merhi be back in the cockpit by the end of FP1?

dr-baker wrote:

novitopoli wrote:The question is: will Merhi be back in the cockpit by the end of FP1?

I would like to see an American back in F1 (no idea why), but I do think it rather unfortunate that Merhi has missed FR3.5 races to be in F1, yet is having to miss F1 races for behind-the-scene political reasons.

Wallio wrote:http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2015/09/17/rossi-picks-no-53-for-his-formula-1-career/

Rossi has chosen #53 for his career, and when asked why, cited a much more famous American motoring icon.....

AndreaModa wrote:

dr-baker wrote:

novitopoli wrote:The question is: will Merhi be back in the cockpit by the end of FP1?

I would like to see an American back in F1 (no idea why), but I do think it rather unfortunate that Merhi has missed FR3.5 races to be in F1, yet is having to miss F1 races for behind-the-scene political reasons.

Merhi was hired on a race-by-race basis, there was nothing in his initial deal that said he'd see out the full year. The fact he's lasted for this long is pretty good in my opinion. Let's be honest with ourselves, he's not the brightest talent in the junior formulae right now and brings no budget to support his drive. Pons had to put together the sponsorship package themselves just for him to keep his drive in FR3.5 this year.

So he'll end up doing 75% of a season which when you look back to Australia is pretty good going. Rossi will bring a lot of great attention to the team, I'd image the team's existing sponsors are delighted, and judging by Rossi's comments in Singapore today, there'll be more funding headed to the team at Austin.

Roberto got his chance, he did pretty well, didn't embarrass himself and everyone wins.

mario wrote:

AndreaModa wrote:

dr-baker wrote:I would like to see an American back in F1 (no idea why), but I do think it rather unfortunate that Merhi has missed FR3.5 races to be in F1, yet is having to miss F1 races for behind-the-scene political reasons.

Merhi was hired on a race-by-race basis, there was nothing in his initial deal that said he'd see out the full year. The fact he's lasted for this long is pretty good in my opinion. Let's be honest with ourselves, he's not the brightest talent in the junior formulae right now and brings no budget to support his drive. Pons had to put together the sponsorship package themselves just for him to keep his drive in FR3.5 this year.

So he'll end up doing 75% of a season which when you look back to Australia is pretty good going. Rossi will bring a lot of great attention to the team, I'd image the team's existing sponsors are delighted, and judging by Rossi's comments in Singapore today, there'll be more funding headed to the team at Austin.

Roberto got his chance, he did pretty well, didn't embarrass himself and everyone wins.

As you say, considering that the original deal was only for the opening rounds of the season, Merhi did at least have good fortune in terms of his career in F1 lasting as long as it did.

dr-baker wrote:

mario wrote:

AndreaModa wrote:Merhi was hired on a race-by-race basis, there was nothing in his initial deal that said he'd see out the full year. The fact he's lasted for this long is pretty good in my opinion. Let's be honest with ourselves, he's not the brightest talent in the junior formulae right now and brings no budget to support his drive. Pons had to put together the sponsorship package themselves just for him to keep his drive in FR3.5 this year.

So he'll end up doing 75% of a season which when you look back to Australia is pretty good going. Rossi will bring a lot of great attention to the team, I'd image the team's existing sponsors are delighted, and judging by Rossi's comments in Singapore today, there'll be more funding headed to the team at Austin.

Roberto got his chance, he did pretty well, didn't embarrass himself and everyone wins.

As you say, considering that the original deal was only for the opening rounds of the season, Merhi did at least have good fortune in terms of his career in F1 lasting as long as it did.

Looking at the situation that way, I guess it's not too bad. Just a shame he found out about the situation once he had already got to Singapore. But I guess it comes down to what F1/GP Rejects is all about in the end: It's better to have raced and lost than never to have raced at all.

dr-baker wrote:...But I guess it comes down to what F1/GP Rejects is all about in the end: It's better to have raced and lost than never to have raced at all.

AllAmericanReject wrote: Rossi seems like a pretty good guy too, which is more than can be said of most American F1 drivers of the past 30 years.

Rob Dylan wrote:

dr-baker wrote:...But I guess it comes down to what F1/GP Rejects is all about in the end: It's better to have raced and lost than never to have raced at all.

Oh man, that's deep. Mind if I use that as a signature?