Being discussed in the "Renault to quit F1?" thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1
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Being discussed in the "Renault to quit F1?" thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1
If Renault do decide to sell the team I hope Prodrive are the ones to take over the operation.
But how cool it would be if Benetton buys it again... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by VkmSpouge
Uh oh, Bidding war... :s hock:
Looks like Richards has a rival for Renault's goods, and a slightly better deal.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80434
May the best man win.
Very interesting. The important thing for the team is to stay.
Looks like the FIA really doesn't want Dave Richards in F1....other bid "favoured by Bernie"...so he has zero chance. So instead of a guy who lives a breathes racing you get a Luxembourg (ie tax haven!) based equity house.
So instead of selling to a team with motorsport pedigree, they're considering selling up to an investment fund. Absurd. I hope Prodrive gets the deal but I'm sure they aren't willing to pay over the odds.
Investment funds...hmmm :dozey: It's the way sport (if you can call it that) in general is going.
The important thing is for Prodrive to get the nod here, an established organization that has a definite place in F1, with an eye on Aston Martin entering the sport. I'd hate to see some dubious group to get involved instead, pushing for Tung to test as a possible driver already tells volumes about the quality of "racing" organization it is...Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
Well said. To echo something that Bernie himself said a few million times "its quality not quantity" and Prodrive is very cleary the quality outfit here.Quote:
Originally Posted by maximilian
Carlos Ghosn wants Genii Capital to run the show because 1) they have the money to take a 75% to 100% stake, 2) can take over the Renault young driver program with their driver management company, and 3) Bernie has given the nod to the money hungry leeches.
The Renault F1 team management on the other hand wants Richards. Why? Because they know that the F1 team under Richards won't be in the crapper for long.
I see this playing out two ways. The leeches buy Renault's F1 team and they are a midfield team forever or Richards takes over and we start seeing Renault headed towards the top once again.
...or the leeches buy the team and hire Richards/ProDrive to run it?Quote:
Originally Posted by gloomyDAY
Yes, but I thought both sides were bidding for Renault.Quote:
Originally Posted by ykiki
I really can't see Genii Capital buying the F1 team and then outsourcing the management to Prodrive. They can just do what they need in-house, especially with Bob Bell at the helm. Also, I think Renault recently had a reshuffle of their key technical personnel, so they should be more competitive next year. The question is, how competitive? A finance company could care less as long as they are raking in bucket loads of cash from sponsors.
Just don't think Renault F1 will be a top team without David Richards.
They weren't a top team the last time he was there.Quote:
Originally Posted by gloomyDAY
If Renault want the team to have a good chance of success they should sell to Prodrive. Considering Renault want to continue as an engine supplier surely they want both the teams they supply to be as competitive as possible as it will make them look better.
And how much time was he given last time??Quote:
Originally Posted by tamburello
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8407138.stmQuote:
The company had considered its future in F1, but sources say its team will continue under new owners with Renault keeping a minority shareholding.
The team are set to be notified at their headquarters on Friday, with an official announcement likely next week.
The team name is unclear but it seems the car will race as a Renault.
It's either the Lopez consortium or Prodrive, with rumours suggesting it's the former. Hopefully we'll know soon.
F1-live now reporting that the deal is done and official announcement will be made next week.
I would truly love it to be Prodrive as I love to see real racing organisations in F1 and would always choose a Prodrive, Lola or Penske over a faceless and passionless Qadbak or Midland yet all the signals seem to be that Gerard Lopez's Genii Capital may have gotten the deal as latest reports from their camp have been that the Renault name would remain under their ownership if it happens so I reckon its gone there way - great for the team being 'saved' yet if Prodrive have lost out again, this will be like the 3rd or 4th time time they have been turned down for an F1 ride - what have they gotta do to join the Pirahna Club??!!
Plus, I really wanna see an F1 Prodrive Aston Martin in a couple of years in Gulf livery!! Purely selfish reasons there! :)
http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/4867.html
Plus, Lopez has been a guest speaker at the recent F1 business forum and going by James Allen's F1 blog, did a very good job, came across very well and certainly has the business credentials and exciting new ideas for F1 to embrace new media etc. Would be great if F1 could accomondate both Lopez and Prodrive and I guess its reassureing for the health of the sport that F1 is still being seen as great value and a viable business platform.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1
The thing in all of this for me is Toro Rosso - if Mateschitz does wanna sell, then its seems there are buyers out there. I think reason this hasnt happened is beacuse new prospective teams probably just wish to purchase their entry and not their facilities and Italian base and Mateschitz is probably insisting on this in any sale as to not make a whole workforce redundant
James was pretty enthusiastic about Lopez wasn't he... but then again he was never going to badmouth one of the main speakers at a forum that he himself was hosting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1
I thought James' most telling comment about Lopez was this one: "has created a successful career out of investing in and then selling on tech companies." That doesn't fill me with confidence that Lopez is in it for the good of the team or the sport.
The budget cap move just transformed F1 even more in a business, not a marketing business as it was but into a direct money making one! :\Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyL
Agreed. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyL
Well the important thing is that team should be able to continue for 2010. Of course I would prefer it if Prodrive was the team taking over the Renault F1 operation but I can't have everything.