A U.S. F1 Team Might Actually Happen

[cosworth151]

It looks like Gene Haas might just get an F1 team. Bernie Ecclestone says that two future Formula One entries have been accepted, although he didn't specify when they would join the series. The team is rumored to be linked to Ferrari.

A second bid from a Romanian team is also in the works. The driving force behind the Romanian project is Ion Bazac, a qualified doctor and former Romanian health minister. It would use Merc power and Colin Kolles' shops.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20140406/F1/140409908

[Jericoke]

An American Ferrari team coloured blue seems like a non-brainer for an F1 team to me.

I hope that the new teams can compete better than other recent new teams.

(I did read one editorial on the subject of 'new' teams, wondering why anyone would bother building a team from scratch when Enstone is begging for a committed owner)

[John S]

(I did read one editorial on the subject of 'new' teams, wondering why anyone would bother building a team from scratch when Enstone is begging for a committed owner)

The answer to this also answers your 2nd question Jeri:- the cost of the budget at Enstone is higher than most new entrants to are willing to fork out, or maybe even imagine spending.

To race near but not necessarily at the front of F1 requires a couple of hundred mill, at least, a year; most outsiders just can't contemplate that sort of cash burn rate. Especially when you realise you will still not win enough money to finance your next year's racing. 

 

[Irisado]

It would be great to have a full field of 26 cars, but any new teams are kidding themselves if they think that they'll get anywhere near the front any time soon.  That hasn't been possible for years, even for major manufacturers.  A lot of investment, the right people, and great timing are the only ways to pull it off.

Formula 1 needs more independents, but the FIA isn't going out of its way to help.  The cost cap has again been shelved after the big teams claimed it was unworkable.  More like they have no desire to make it work.

[Scott]

I would think if potential teams have a look at it historically, it is a much better bet to buy an already established team than to start from scratch.

[Jericoke]

I would think if potential teams have a look at it historically, it is a much better bet to buy an already established team than to start from scratch.

Indeed, of all the championship teams, RBR is the youngest, founded in 1996 as Stewart Grand Prix.

[Jericoke]

(I did read one editorial on the subject of 'new' teams, wondering why anyone would bother building a team from scratch when Enstone is begging for a committed owner)

The answer to this also answers your 2nd question Jeri:- the cost of the budget at Enstone is higher than most new entrants to are willing to fork out, or maybe even imagine spending.

To race near but not necessarily at the front of F1 requires a couple of hundred mill, at least, a year; most outsiders just can't contemplate that sort of cash burn rate. Especially when you realise you will still not win enough money to finance your next year's racing. 

 

I don't see how building facilities from scratch and hiring an entire staff, plus actually engaging in unique R&D is cheaper than buying a fully formed team with facilities.

Even if Enstone is too pricey, I'd heard that STR was for sale, and I'm sure that Sauber is always looking for someone to keep the team going strong.

I suppose teams based outside of 'traditional' F1 territories are looking to exploit local tax breaks.

[John S]

I suppose teams based outside of 'traditional' F1 territories are looking to exploit local tax breaks.

Even new start ups inside F1's heartland in Britain will likely enjoy development grants and better tax arrangments than buying a ready made team Jeri. Loan rates to a newbie for their own infrastructure are also likely to be far lower than for existing teams already in hock up to the ears.

 

 

[F1fanaticBD]

I am just amazed how can people think they will be able to succeed in this cut-throat heavy bleeding racing program, where the newly promoted teams are struggling, the veterans with limited budget are constantly fending off death penalties of their team every season, and the bigger teams are not willing to have budget cap. If they are so much convinced with their ability, I think starting with a already established team will be clearly a much safer option for sustainability.

[J.Clark]

I suppose my biggest fear over a US team is not much of an issue in this case.  I don't know about the second team, but a US based team was tried just a few short years ago.  I showed promise too, but financing dried up before they could put a car together.  I doubt this will be the case for Haas, as he knows what he is getting into and likely already has all of the finances worked out.

There are some challenges that face a US based team however.  The biggest is that of transportation, for lack of a better word.  Europe is relatively small, and teams can transport nearly everything they need by van and do it virtually over-night.  The only fly-away races are for the most part Asain, Australia, or South America.  A US based team would have fly-away races for all but one race (maybe two soon), which would require keeping trucks and staff at a location in Europe for both convenience and savings.

In any case, I hope they can pull it off.

[Scott]

The Haas team would supposedly also have a base in Italy, while R&D would take place in the US.  I think if they did some fabrication and most of the assembly at the Italy base, it would reduce the transportation costs almost on par with the European based teams.  They might even set it up as a sort of Ferrari team B...something Ferrari needs at the moment.

[lkjohnson1950]

Actually, Ferrari seems to have a "B" team, it's the "A" team that's missing. 

[F1fanaticBD]

Actually, Ferrari seems to have a "B" team, it's the "A" team that's missing. 

  Lonny is in the mood people 

[John S]

Actually, Ferrari seems to have a "B" team, it's the "A" team that's missing. 

    Ding Dong, Lonny. 

[Scott]