Marussia gone; official

[driveace]

IF Haas has bought the Marussia factory ,there is planty of Tesco stores closing ,they would make a super F1 Facility !

[anfield5]

They will be returning to the factory they used when they were known as Virgin Racing..... and I was always told it was not possible to recapture your virginity

[Doc Austin]

Hope this is true. Even though they never set the grid alight, they are another team and who knows, if they keep Ferrari engines they might even have a change of scraping the odd point scoring race through the season.

I wonder if the new engine will even fit in the old car.

Marussia may not be the onloy team in trouble. This is from Autoweek (a credible source) Feb 2nd:

Ralf Bach, a correspondent for Sport Bild and TZ Munchen who now writes on his own blog f1-insider.com, said he has learned that Force India's Jerez absence is "because it has no monocoque" for the new VJM08 car.

He said Force India has not been delivered the 2015 monocoque by carbon supplier EOM "because bills have not been paid".

I hope Bach is getting bad info. The last thing any of us wants to see is a 16 car grid at Melbourne.

[anfield5]

I wonder if the new engine will even fit in the old car.

Good point Doc.

I would assume that it will, or very nearly will though, as some teams have basically evolved last years cars, rather than designed new ones (apart from RBR who seem to have developed last years Mercedes)

[Doc Austin]

If the other engine makers copied Mercedes' forward mounted, turbo-driven compressor, it is hard to believe there would not be colossal packaging problems fitting it to a 2015 car. That, and it's also hard to believe they would have enough time for all of that. I think if we see them at all it's going to be with the cars in the configuration they raced in last.

Then again, I've certainly been wrong before.

[anfield5]

If the other engine makers copied Mercedes' forward mounted, turbo-driven compressor, it is hard to believe there would not be colossal packaging problems fitting it to a 2015 car. That, and it's also hard to believe they would have enough time for all of that. I think if we see them at all it's going to be with the cars in the configuration they raced in last.

Then again, I've certainly been wrong before.

Will be interesting to see what and when things do happen. Hopefully Caterham are in a similar position and we get back up to 11 teams.

I find it hard to believe that you are ever wrong Doc

[Doc Austin]

This might be the end after all: F1 Strategy Group rejects bid by Marussia to keep 2014 car.

Why would F1 shoot itself in the foot like this? This practically guarantees an 18 car grid at best, and even that is only if Force India makes it.

From the link

The Strategy Group includes Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Williams on a permanent basis, as well as the next best placed constructor, which this year is Force India.

How could those teams possibly think dropping the grid to 18 cars is good for the sport, and long term, good even for their own interests? If force India doesn't make it, that's 16 cars, and the teams think that would be ok?

Maybe it's really the teams that want to run three cars, because with this vote they are one step closer.

[dj_bytedisaster]

There was one opposing voice - Force India. They hope by blocking Marussia's return they'll get their hands on some of the 54 Million Marussia were entitled to for their 9th in the constructors last year. I now strongly hope FI goes under or someone burns down their factory.

[Robinho]

I would assume that the value of the Force India team/entry is greater without Marussia in the frame. Someone could by up the marussia team and entry and ignore FI, who would presumably want more money. Being the only available team makes FI worth more, if they are in as much trouble as it seems and if Mallya is looking to sell/attract investment. It is still a low blow, also if they think they would get an extra $6m (1/9th of the $54) if marussia don't turn up. Hopefully they will change their minds and let Marussia try to make a go of it

[CNR]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...ons-off-assets
"The end of the Caterham Formula One team moved a step closer on Thursday with an announcement from auctioneers that they would sell off the team’s assets next month.

As Marussia – another backmarker of recent seasons – continued to cling on for F1 survival the game is all but up for Caterham, who entered administration last October.
"