Will HRT be on the Grid in OZ?

[John S]

New rumours suggest ’major’ financial trouble. "Five engineers have quit already" allegedly due to unpaid wages. We all guessed 'the parts in customs' was a smokescreen at the last test, but it seems the situation may be dire.    

HRT is straining under "major financial problems", a source at the team has told a specialist website. F1today in Holland also claims the Spanish team’s explanation about not being able to test the new F111 recently in Barcelona due to parts being held in customs was not true.

And suspension parts were not the only ones running late, as components as fundamental as "front and rear wings" were still in production, the report added.

"People with half a brain can understand what is going on," the source is quoted as saying. "We engineers have gone unpaid for two months.

"Five engineers have quit already," he revealed.

"That we could not test due to dampers being in customs is of course nonsense," the source continued. "Everything is transported by truck from Germany.

"And it was not just the suspension that was not there, it was a big list of missing parts," he added.

The news coincides with rumours in Germany that Bernie Ecclestone is now getting involved with the team’s survival. HRT’s business affairs boss Manfredi Ravetto denied all the claims.

Nextgen-auto.com, Today.

[Wats-on]

Bernie for teamboss!

Noi, serious, I hope the will be present. More teams, more action. And I always favour the lesser teams.

[cosworth151]

So do I, Wats-on. I've always had a special place in my heart for the Minardis and Super Aguris of the F1 world.

[Wats-on]

So do I, Wats-on. I've always had a special place in my heart for the Minardis and Super Aguris of the F1 world.

Just because being there is for them a bigger achievement then a win for McLaren or Ferrari...

[Jericoke]

Bernie for teamboss!

Noi, serious, I hope the will be present. More teams, more action. And I always favour the lesser teams.

It's not uncommon in North American professional sports for teams that are struggling financially to be taken over by a governing body to continue the team while new ownership is facilitated.

Having either Bernie or FOTA put up the funds to help HRT meet Concorde might be a good idea.  (As far as I know, they don't need to actually qualify, just participate in the weekend?  Slap on a spare Ferrari nose, some spare McLaren suspension and make sure the drivers keep out of the way.) 

Assuming would be far easier for HRT to continue and be purchased by someone else than to simply fold and have a totally new team take their slot.

[Wats-on]

Slap on a spare Ferrari nose, some spare McLaren suspension and make sure the drivers keep out of the way.)

It's not a 'whooshbonk'.   

[Williamsfan]

Hope they make it, it would be awful to see another team fall apart.  I don't particularly like the team but I want to see them on the grid so there is more action.  However, even if they did get there, would they even qualify?

[Scott]

Gee, I thought Bernie once said that for every team that leaves F1, there are 10 in line to join?

Seriously, I also hope they make it, only to make the grid bigger, but showing up doesn't always make a better show thanks to those damned blue flags!

Although I'm fundamentally against any kind of budget restrictions, if the big (rich) teams have to slalom through the cars that are 5 seconds off the pace because they can't afford a multi-million dollar exhaust system or a multi-million dollar flexible wing, maybe they would come up with a solution for sharing the wealth a bit.  Now they scream for the blue flag and it's clear sailing.

[aazz]

I don't know if they are going to race but they are here. Good luck to them!

[cosworth151]

That's great news, aazz! Good to have an on-site reporter. 

[Canada Darrell™]

What a bloody joke! Watching Speedvision's live coverage of final Friday free practice and the parts are still being delivered to the garage. The cars have still yet to run ANY practices laps! 

[John S]

Although Tonio did manage one installation lap right at the end of P2, when they miss the quali standard - as they surely will, I somehow don't think that's anywhere near enough to get them one wild card entry let alone 2. 

   

[cosworth151]

It'll be interesting to see what happens if they don't make the cut. Will things be "modified" to allow them to run?