Piquet Snr eyeing BMW/Sauber takeover

[John S]

The Piquet bit is very very speculative in this piece, I think the claimed shortcomings about the state of the new entrant teams preparedness and finances is the more sensational bit.

Renault driver Nelson Piquet's famous father is a candidate to take over the Hinwil-based BMW Sauber team, according to the Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

It is claimed that 56-year-old Brazilian Piquet, a triple World Champion, may be eyeing Sauber in collaboration with Super Nova GP2 team chief David Sears.

"All I can say is that I like the name 'Piquet F1'. What do you think?" Piquet's son and namesake, who on Monday may be formally stepped down as Fernando Alonso's Renault teammate, is said to have reacted to the report.

Mentioned by the Swiss newspaper Blick as a possible Sauber saviour is Fritz Kaiser, who sold his original team share to Red Bull in 1999.

Joan Villadelprat is also a name doing the rounds after his Epsilon Euskadi application to debut in 2010 was turned down by the FIA.

"To take BMW's place would be difficult, but if a vacancy becomes available we will be there," he told the Spanish sports newspaper AS.   
 
Villadelprat claims his team would be better placed than the new entrants Campos, Manor and USF1.

"In the US there are only 15 people working on their project," he said. "Manor is trying to sell part of the shares and of Adrian (Campos' project) I know nothing, but the rumours are that it is not doing so well.

"I am in permanent contact with the FIA and Ecclestone," Villadelprat added. "I am sure that we will be in F1, I don't know if it's in a week, a month or a year."

© CAPSIS International

[Scott]

Oh God, I hope not.  I'd rather see Dave Richards ride in on his white horse.

[cosworth151]

I'd like to see Stoddy turn it into a new Minardi, just to watch Bernie's head explode!