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TBH Sauber come off really badly here. I almost hope that they refuse to let him race and their kit is impounded. However, I suspect given the impact on their overall business it would be catastrophic if they didn't drive at all as I doubt they are terribly solvent at the moment.
I can't see that Sauber would be prevented from racing. They'd just be held to account for losses/damages/failure to deliver against GVD's contract (or more to the point, his sponsors' contracts). That's where the pain will be - I doubt Sauber have the money to pay back...
He is now waiting for his super licence, which may prove the final sticking point.
I can just imagine the slow wheels of bureaucracy causing this to crash despite all the court rulings.
He needs a race seat as well, as he hasn't had one moulded yet.
The seat only takes a short while to make.
Can they make it in Australia or does he have to head to the factory for measurements, get it made and then get it sent out. There's less than 24hrs to go to first practice.
There's nothing to physically stop him racing - it's just down to licenses, etc. Interestingly this link suggests that Sauber having equipment confiscated if they don't comply is a realistic prospect so it's likely that it'll be one of the other two drivers dumped. I can imagine that having given him the drive at Oz, Sauber will be able to dump GVD just like any other gets dumped mid season, having had a bit of time to work out the finances of it all...
Justice Clyde Croft has ordered the team pay legal costs [b]and to provide a list of their assets in Australia[/b] by tonight (Thursday). He will take further action on Friday morning depending on what happens next.
Jesus the other two drivers also have contracts to drive. This could be messy with one of them if dropped?
I never thought Sauber could get in such a mess.
Yes, they'll all have legitimate claims but given that the other two drivers presumably are providing more money (which would be why they were chosen ahead of GVD) and are intending to drive for the team for the rest of the year, one will no doubt step aside and not make too much fuss, for the good of the team, for one race.
Since you clearly love a good conspiracy theory, Hora:
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/what-now-for-sauber-after-court-loss
Yes, they'll all have legitimate claims but given that the other two drivers presumably are providing more money (which would be why they were chosen ahead of GVD) and are intending to drive for the team for the rest of the year, one will no doubt step aside and not make too much fuss, for the good of the team, for one race.
[b][i]The judge further added that the ruling applies "to the whole of the 2015 Formula 1 season - not just in relation to the coming few days in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix"[/i].[/b]
Something will have to give, there's an appeal this evening so we'll see
He needs a race seat as well, as he hasn't had one moulded yet.Can they make it in Australia or does he have to head to the factory for measurements, get it made and then get it sent out. There's less than 24hrs to go to first practice.The seat only takes a short while to make.
When Hamilton went sick during testing, Merc quickly drafted in Wehrlein and simply put him in the car without a seat being made specially for him.
Not ideal but Sauber claiming a safety issue by doing similar is stretching it a bit.
Since you clearly love a good conspiracy theory, Hora:
Alonso's latest news story saying hes looking forward to driving the car etc etc really helped with the negativity 😀
word on the wire today, FIA still investigating , funny though they stated "still working with McLaren " and "Our medical department is talking to people who treated him"
hmmmmm perhaps the 2 sides of the story dont match up yet.
Perhaps they should speak to Ron...?
😉
The judge further added that the ruling applies "to the whole of the 2015 Formula 1 season - not just in relation to the coming few days in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix".
But drivers are always being changed mid season so there must be some getout clause in there - I expect that it relates to 'performance' though and they can't claim that if he hasn't been in the car yet...
As I understood it, the appeal was today (which since it's in Oz was late yesterday) and now that's been rejected, Sauber are stuck with it and pretty much have to put GVD in the car this weekend to avoid contempt of court.
As I understood it, the appeal was today
There are some more court proceedings (not sure what exactly) 10:30 local time Friday
That's for the court to check that Sauber are complying with the ruling...
Is, do you think, van de Garde's intention to drive the team out of business?
Who knows... stranger things have happened...
Probably not though - more likely is he just wants to race.
Is, do you think, van de Garde's intention to drive the team out of business?
He probably just wants to get what he's paid for so far and for the team to honour it's contract with him.
Not unreasonable.
Just because someone came along later with more money shouldn't mean they can ignore him, they've had plenty of time to deal with it but chose not to do so.
That's fair enough - it's just, like.. In his efforts to get what he (or somebody else) paid for, I fear he's going to break Sauber. 🙁
Given that the team boss is a lawyer, you would have thought they could and should of mitigated that risk.
That's fair enough - it's just, like.. In his efforts to get what he (or somebody else) paid for, I fear he's going to break Sauber.
Happens all the time, management getting themselves in a mess because they're greedy and get complacent. A big national business was built up by a guy in a town where I used to live and he sold it, problem was the buyer didn't put a clause in the contract to stop him from doing the same again (start a similar business, which apparently is a standard clause), so he duly did start again and it is at least as successful as the original!
The obvious way out for Sauber would be to get Ferrari to twist Manor's arm a bit to take one of the three.
Whether they'd do it and how much it'll cost Sauber may make it difficult but unless VdG backs down, they don't have many other options.
Ferrari certainly have some leverage in both teams so not impossible, especially if a master broker like Bernie puts his mind to it and gets people talking.
Sauber sit out P1 and then send out Nasr and Ericsson in P2
VdG got his circuit passes and had a seat fitting with Sauber so it looks like the licence issue is holding things up.
I liked Brundle's take on how the relationship would go
[i]radio[/i]
VdG "massive oversteer into turn 1"
Eng "copy that Giedo, just turn the steering wheel a bit more"
So, results so far largely as expected - Merc, Ferrari, Williams, RB give or take.
Buttons comments are bad news for McL fans though - no RB2014 type step forward from the last test to Oz GP by the looks of it - JB basically said he hopes that Manor get their car together otherwise McL will be filling the back row of the grid 😕
Helmut Marko isn't a happy chap!...
http://www.grandprix247.com/2015/03/13/marko-we-have-taken-a-step-back-with-renault/
That makes me happy 🙂 While I like RB as a team, I've never liked Helmut.
Anyone want to take any bets that RBR will still be with Renault by end of this season - would no surprise me if they "purchase" 'renault power unit' division out-right!
McLaren - will Ron last 4 races if they are battling for the rear of the grid-
could Honda be waiting for something like this to swoop in a fully takeover McLaren as a full works 2016 team??
would no surprise me if they "purchase" 'renault power unit' division out-right!
That rumour has been doing the rounds for a while now, it may even happen 🙂
No chance of McLaren selling out to Honda.
would no surprise me if they "purchase" 'renault power unit' division out-right!
What would be more likely is Renault buying the RBR outfit outright, then restore it to a Renault works team.
would no surprise me if they "purchase" 'renault power unit' division out-right!
There have also been rumours recently that Renault will buy a team and become a full works entry again.
Red Bull with the Austrian/German links may be able to tempt one of other German marques back in?
would no surprise me if they "purchase" 'renault power unit' division out-right!
The rumour mill is in overdrive here too. There's speculation that VW's hiring of outgoing Ferrari principal Stefano Domenicali may have something to do with an Audi or Porsche readying a power unit for Red Bull in 2017. While it may seem very far-fetched, it should be noted that Audi is scaling back it's Le Mans presence this year and that the VW group has almost committed to F1 on three separate occasions, indeed in the late 1990s it was revealed that a VW 3 litre V10 power unit was being dyno tested. The common theme has been the mutual loathing between VW's Ferdinand Piech and Bernie.
I wouldn't be surprised if Renault bought a struggling F1 team outright, one with a decent chassis but hitherto unexpectedly high legal costs...or failing that, Force India for a song.
i really dont think though that RBR would want to try an untested power unit, more over that they would purchase Renault and make any and all modifications for the engine to suit their car - RBR cannot afford to spend this season waiting for 2016 for a new engine supplier and then wait on that season to "see how it goes" - especially if the 2017 season is all about new 1000bhp power units anyway!
EDIT:
as for McLaren-Honda - why wouldnt McLaren sell out? they sold out to Middle Eastern buyers a few years ago until Ron came back...
it would still be called McLaren Honda, it would just be that Honda would pick and choose staff - goodbye Ron.
Rumours of RB buying Renault engines have been around for ages - they'd then be comparable with Merc and Ferrari in doing it all under one roof which is reckoned to be an advantage.
I can't see McL selling to Honda - they consider themselves a marque in their own right and selling would fundamentally change that. Besides, Honda didn't exactly cover themselves in glory during their car foray until 2009 (and yes, I know ref Brawn but they largely got themselves into that position by taking two years to design the car while their main competition raced themselves into the ground and missed out on a loophole).
Small PSA - if you don't have the Sky F1 channel but have Sky 1, you can still watch (record) the qualifying live as it'll be on Sky 1 tomorrow morning (BBC at 1pm - eg not live)
VDG won't be racing for Sauber this weekend:
http://twitter.com/andrewbensonf1/status/576523753472929792?s=09
With respect to the interest of motorsport, and F1 in particular, I have decided to give up my legal rights to race this weekend at the Melbourne Grand Prix.
As I am a passionate race driver this decision has been very difficult for me.
However I also wish to respect the interest of the FIA, Sauber Motorsport, as well as Nasr and Ericsson.
My management will continue talks with Sauber early next week to find a mutually acceptable solution for the current situation that has now arisen.
I am confident such solution will be found and I will inform the media once done.
His FB page
Mclarens out in first qualifying, denis will not be happy.
They've always known they wouldn't make Q2 so I doubt it's much of a surprise result
McLaren are about four seconds off the pace. That time gap for McLaren is the equivalent of a 250bhp deficit. But how much is engine and how much is chassis?"
I think the systems are a big workload for them ATM.
turned out to be 5 seconds a lap. Lewis should lap him(jenson) before lap 20!
Good to see the red cars confirmed as pretty much as fast as the Willys
If RB get on top of their issues (which you'd expect) it will make for some interesting racing
When will the Vtec kick in yooo?
No wonder Alonso threw himself into the wall
Still they should lockout the back of the grid. Honda's first 1-2 finish at the start.
I think NR will be smarting a bit from that slap in the face from Lewis. Awesome lap, quicker that the last of the V8 era cars.
Nice to see Massa up there also asked would have been Williams 3 & 4 had Valteri not fluffed his lap.
Ouch Nico. Destined to be Mark Webber of Mercedes?..
I hope G vD g got paid to drop his action.. Seems a nice chap and I hope he gets a drive somewhere.
I thought Vettel did well in the ferrari.. could alonso be eating his words about vettel's 4 championship titles?
VdG (his backers) are -apparently- owed €7.8m
That hasn't changed, they've come to some agreement not to push the issue this weekend, but the issue and legal action are still there.
Bottas looks like he won't drive tomorrow
Susie Wolff is the dev driver but I don't think she's been in the car this weekend so unlikely to deputise, shame.
Might not even be a two horse race this year judging by this
Only one team in it and looking like only one driver as well.
She didn't take part in qualifying so there's no way she could have raced. Shame as it'd be interesting to see how she went in full race conditions. By my reckoning she's capable of a reasonable result if not up to the standard of the top drivers.
I do wonder if Alonso has a get-out-cos-the-car-is-sh*t clause?
Button playing the corporate line, but, you cannot hide the times, McLaren are in serious serious trouble and 5 seconds is something that they will not be able to make up with no real in season development AND testing allowed.
is anyone taking bets on Alonso not racing for McLaren for more than 1 race this season - i'd put a tenner on it!
I also stick by my statement that if its a bore-fest at the front (even more this year if Lewis is trampling Nico) there will be some knee jerk reactions from Bernie/Ferrari/RBR/FIA after 3 races.
Sauber look like a team reborn - car looks like its stuck to the track, and i love the colour scheme too!
She didn't take part in qualifying so there's no way she could have raced
It's possible to race without having taken part in quali but would need to apply to the stewards under a unforeseen circumstances case.
However, as she didn't do any Friday running they are unlikely to allow it.
FIVE seconds 😯
crikey!
his ridiculous tache is slowing him down
My missus reckons Button looks like George from George and Mildred with that crap 'tache.
Bottas looks like he won't drive tomorrow
How come? Haven't seen this yet!
EDIT: Never mind, caught up now! Would be good if Wolff gets a go. Who'd be ahead of her in the queue for the drive if they run 2 cars without Bottas?
my guess would be over heating, means mchonda can't run the engine at full tilt, it was a problem for all the teams last season and add the over ambitiously tight engine cowling to help their blown axle work and they've got a problem.
Button playing the corporate line, but, you cannot hide the times, McLaren are in serious serious trouble and 5 seconds is something that they will not be able to make up with no real in season development AND testing allowed.
They can develop the engine and have admitted it's running in a de-tuned format due to overheating of certain elements. I have faith that they'll be top 10 runners by mid-season.
The basic car looks decent enough.
Who'd be ahead of her in the queue for the drive if they run 2 cars without Bottas?
She's the only other driver there, she won't get the gig though
my guess would be over heating, means mchonda can't run the engine at full tilt
Honda have already said that's the reason, they don't want to risk losing a unit whilst getting things sorted so they've turned it down
"not running at full tilt"
jeez guys come on, you believe anything McL-H are spouting out these days, of course they are going to say that THEY KNOW THE REASON, to keep BigBoard Members Happy, potential Sponsors and current Sponsors happy - they are NOT going to say
"well because we built a crappier engine than the others due to the fact we have not been in the sport for 'x' years unlike them, and so it will take us about 3 years to get to the front" - the money peeps would jump ship and Sauber would have more sponsors on their car
EDIT: --- and ANY manufacturer would prefer to have the cars in the top 10 and blowing engines half way, then run around getting bloody lapped
even if they used up the full allocation of engines and had to put in a new one every race, the most they would get is 10place penalty, and it would STILL be higher then where they are now if they Q'd 6th or 7th
It's obvious from the rpm they're spinning them up to that they've turned them down.
No idea what other power reductions are going on.
Ron isn't a fool; he is in this for the long game.
I predict the McHonda won't be at the back for long 😀
Ron is a fool.
I'd love it if Renault just went "f*** you Horner/Marko" and withdrew their engines.
It's worth noting that Mercedes High Performance Engines (HPE) started work on their 2014 powertrain in mid 2010. They had the best engine last year pretty much because they had been working on it the longest. Mclaren/Honda were always going to be playing the catch up game. The interesting thing is not that they are behind at the start of the 2015 season (which was inevitable) but how quickly they can catch up. Knowing quite a few of the people working on their powertrain this year, i don't think it will take them that long once the initial running experience is gathered
Mercedes AMG high performance Powertrains
Who's up at 4.30 to watch it, or are you playing media roulette to not hear the result? Think I might get up around 7 and not turn anything on except the recorded show.
gonna record it and then play it back over breakfast without listening or watching any news before.
No Sky so will be out on the bike in the morning to avoid any news then watch the BBC highlights over lunch. Then it's mother's day duties.
5 seconds off the pace in qualy. If they turn the engine down a bit more for reliability (and make it to the end) McHonda will be lapped 4-5 times by the leaders. They could also be lapped once by EVERYONE ELSE 😯
My missus reckons Button looks like George from George and Mildred with that crap 'tache.
Dreadful isn't it? I can't believe Jessica is impressed.
Good morning!
will button make it round the parade lap ?
will button make it round the parade lap ?
With only 15 starters he may score points if it keeps going!
Down to 14!
13!
Go nasr!
Hmm - perhaps F1 needs more teams!?
The powers-that-be need their heads banging together to make F1 a lot cheaper to enter.