Ecclestone has doubts over US F1 and Campos

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has said he does not expect two of the new teams - US F1 and Campos - to be on the grid in 2010.

Four new teams have been granted entry to next year's championship, but Ecclestone told The Times he thought US F1 and Campos would not be in a position to race by the start of the season.

"I think the people we expected to perform will and those that we thought wouldn't, won't," he told the paper.

There has been speculation for some time that US F1 would not be ready in time, as the team has remained relatively quiet since the FIA granted it a place in F1 2010. The team still hasn't confirmed its drivers, but has paid the US$440,000 entry fee to race next year.

Campos has signed Bruno Senna as a driver for 2010 and has been in talks with a number of other drivers. However, it has made clear that it does not have the resources to pay big money. Its chassis is being manufactured by Dallara and has already passed two of the FIA's mandatory crash tests, suggesting it is well on the way to being ready.

Ecclestone told the paper he thought 24 cars would be on the grid at the start of the season. With US F1 and Campos there would be a total of 26 cars in Formula One, indicating that Ecclestone thinks another new team could take the place of the two he expects to leave.

I think Campos will make it, not 100% sure about US-F1 though.

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X (@ed24f1)

Not even mildly sure about USF1. Have they actually said they've done anything yet?

Wonder if Bernie's having a senior moment regarding grid numbers. I can't think it would be at all possible to have another team coming in at such short notice, unless Bernie's given them a financial incentive to design and build a car over the past few months on the quiet, expecting one of the new teams to fail. Extremely unlikely.

Rumours have been constantly floating about regarding a lack of money from Campos and a few regarding constantly late deadlines from Dallara...

Now that Peter Windsor has shut his trap I get more confident USF1 will make it.

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"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

gav Wrote:
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> Wonder if Bernie's having a senior moment
> regarding grid numbers. I can't think it would be
> at all possible to have another team coming in at
> such short notice, unless Bernie's given them a
> financial incentive to design and build a car over
> the past few months on the quiet, expecting one of
> the new teams to fail. Extremely unlikely.

Stefan F1 keep saying they would be able to make the 2010 grid if they were given an entry, so you never know...

Hopefully it doesn't come to that, because I've got a feeling they might make Mastercard Lola look not too bad.

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X (@ed24f1)

If Campos fails then I'll be disappointed as I want to see the Dallara in action.

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Dont forget that Stefan GP could effectively buy this year's 'Toyota' car and staff and carry on where they left off. Not as far fetched as it may sound.

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Circuit Thermalito

Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)

gav Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not even mildly sure about USF1. Have they
> actually said they've done anything yet?
>
> Wonder if Bernie's having a senior moment
> regarding grid numbers. I can't think it would be
> at all possible to have another team coming in at
> such short notice, unless Bernie's given them a
> financial incentive to design and build a car over
> the past few months on the quiet, expecting one of
> the new teams to fail. Extremely unlikely.

[racingwire.info]

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"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

I for one wouldn't give a monkey if USF1 didn't make it to the grid. It's already in the running for being the most spectacularly dull team in F1 history. To lose Campos, however, would be more of a blow IMHO, not least because Bruno Senna is already signed up. From what I've seen, Campos have a great "traditional" privateer attitude, which would be welcome in F1.

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Please find us on [en.wikipedia.org] for more information.

USF1 looks anything but serious,... it's so american i wouldn't be surprised if they announce Britney as their reserve driver

3 secs off the pace would be a good job by them

Campos will make it, I'm sure. They've got a car nearly developed by Dallara and a driver signed. It would be criminal to pull out now.
Virgin aren't spending big bucks either; so them and Campos could be duking it out properly next year.

As for USF1? I'm not sure. They haven't signed a driver but we'll see. I've heard rumours of Jose Maria Lopez on the basis of an $8million sponsorship package, but thats it.

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GPGSL: S6 - TafuroGP Tester (14th) /// S7 - ART Tester (6th) /// S8 - Demon Driver (13th) /// S9 - Demon/Snake Driver (13th) /// S10 - Snake Driver (???) ///]
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness" - Charles Bukowski

US F1 boss Peter Windsor has rejected Bernie Ecclestone's claims that his team will not be on the grid in 2010.

Ecclestone told The Times he did not expect either US F1 or Campos to be ready in time for the season opener in Bahrain. But in an interview with BBC Sport Windsor hit back at those remarks, defending the position of his team.

"I'm surprised Bernie said that. We will be there. We're in good shape," he said. "Everything is going well and we are looking forward to the year. We've just finished the chassis and are now in the hands of [engine suppliers] Cosworth."

US F1 has paid its US$440,000 entry fee, but is the only team not to announce either of its drivers for 2010.

"We are trying to find the best drivers we can; there's no rush," said Windsor. "We have no date [for car completion]. However, there will be a moment when we announce the drivers at the factory; and that will be some time towards late January."

Another problem for US-F1 is that there aren't many top line drivers left for them to get.

Heidfeld is probably the best of them, but he should go to Sauber or Renault. Davidson, Sato or Villeneuve would be solid drivers, but would not provide a line-up as good as Lotus or Virgin in my opinion.

Considering none of the other new teams have gone for obvious pay drivers yet, if US-F1 do, it will show on the track.

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X (@ed24f1)

Looks like USF1 has something to show, and in the spirit of F1 they have concealed all their development from the media.

That strikes of "Hello! We found a piece of carbon fibre."

J i m Wrote:
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> That strikes of "Hello! We found a piece of carbon
> fibre."

Yeah, it reminds me somewhat of what I think the Queen's bath would look like. That's no progress at all.

it looks more like a boat than a F1 car

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X (@ed24f1)

Even I could do that.

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hahahahahaha!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2009 09:20PM by Slash.

I'd so love for them to be another Lola Mastercard F1 :p Though I'd rather they weren't a sucky team so we have more good cars on the grid.