Leaving aside the likely impact of Dieselgate on Wolfsburg and the wider German economy, the crisis rocking VW Group is likely to have a significant impact on their motorsport programmes and aspirations. Will the money still be there to fund Audi, Bentley and Porsche works teams? Particularly the hugely expensive Le Mans hybrid racers? If the Audi Le Mans programme was designed to show the excellence of that company’s diesel and hybrid engineering technology, how can it possibly continue when it and its parent have been exposed as using the excellence of their engineering to cheat the public and the regulators? And if Porsche and Audi pull out of WEC racing will other manufacturers do likewise?
Just before Dieselgate broke there was speculation in the motorsport press that VW were about to buy into Red Bull. The deal would have made sense. Red Bull have fallen out with Renault and Mercedes will not supply them with engines. The thought of only being able to run obsolescent Ferrari engines next year was understandably unappealing. A deal with VW would have allowed Red Bull access to VW Group’s proven hybrid technology – rebranding as Red Bull Audi would have been a small price to pay. Such a deal is now surely dead in the water. There will be no money to spare at VW Group for a luxury like a Formula 1 team. And without such a deal will we see Red Bull and Toro Rosso on next year’s grid? I think there is a real risk that we will not.
September 30, 2015
Dieselgate’s Impact on Motorsport
Posted by morewheelspin under Audi, Bentley, formula 1, Le Mans, motorsport, politics, red bull, Renault, volks wagen, WEC | Tags: Audi, bentley, dieselgate, formula 1, hybrid, Mercedes Benz, Porsche 919, red bull racing, vw, vw group, Wolfsburg |Leave a Comment
July 3, 2015
Silverstone Pit Walk
Posted by morewheelspin under ferrari, formula 1, lewis hamilton, Lotus, mclaren, mercedes benz, motorsport, red bull, Renault, silverstone, Uncategorized, vettel | Tags: bottas, daniel ricciardo, felipe massa, force India, jenson button, johnny herbert, lotus F1, manor marussia racing, mclaren honda, mercedes benz amg gt, mercedes gp, nico hulkenberg, Nico Rosberg, pastor maldonado, pit walk, red bull racing, romain grosjean, scuderia ferrari, Sebastian Vettel, silverstone grand prix, will stevens, williams f1 |Leave a Comment
November 23, 2014
Congratulations Lewis!
Posted by morewheelspin under ferrari, formula 1, lewis hamilton, Lotus, mclaren, mercedes benz, motorsport, red bull, schumacher, vettel | Tags: Adrian Newey, Caterham F1, daniel ricciardo, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Flavio Briatore, force India, Honda, Jules Bianchi, Lewis Hamilton, Luca Montezemolo, Marussia, mclaren racing, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, red bull racing, Ron Dennis, Ross Brawn, Sebastian Vettel, williams f1 |Leave a Comment
Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton on his second World Championship following his convincing win at Abu Dhabi earlier today. Whilst its a shame Rosberg dropped out of contention with mechanical difficulties, it was a relief that the Championship went to the driver with the most wins and that it was not decided by the ridiculous double points system in place for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Other innovations were more successful. The new hybrid engines are absolutely fascinating and have proved more reliable than anyone would have predicted. I personally do not mind the different noise – I think it sounds like the future.
Despite Mercedes Benz’s crushing dominance it was still a thrilling season. The resurrection of Williams was great to see for all British fans as was the humbling of Vettel at the hands of his Australian team mate. Ricciardo has had a fantastic season, his third in the drivers championship being well deserved. His lack of pretention and easy going nature have already endeared him to the fans. We can expect great things of him next season. In addition, thanks to the aerodynamic skills of Adrian Newey, Red Bull managed to stay in touch with the Mercedes powered teams, notwithstanding their Renault engines. A remarkable achievement for the team. How will they cope with less of his time next year?
Massa has also had a good season. He must be delighted Ferrari let him go. Ferrari’s season has been terrible – an embarrassment to the team who reap the most financial reward from the current system of team financing. The departure of Montezemolo after so many years is the end of an era. Rumours abound that Ross Brawn may go back to Ferrari. Might that and Vettel’s arrival be enough to help them out of the hole they are currently in? McLaren, the second oldest team on the grid, have also had a season to forget. Ron Dennis has a new Honda engine next season – will it be good enough? Engine aside they have not been competitive with the other Mercedes customer teams, Williams and Force India, both of whom have outperformed the Woking outfit. Bar a miraculous Honda engine, Alonso is likely to face a tough test on his return to the team.
The administration of the Caterham and Marussia teams was a sad symptom of the increasing cost of F1. The new hybrid engines and the inequity of the current Concorde Agreement between F1’s commercial rights owner and some of the teams led directly to the reduced grid seen in the last few races of the season. Things do not look good for Sauber, Force India of Lotus either. Lotus’ season has been particularly terrible and it seems nothing much can save them apart from a return of Flavio Briatore or some other deep pocket.
After many years of no serious injuries in F1 we were rocked by Jules Bianchi’s terrible accident at Suzuka. Hopefully he and Michael Schumacher, injured in a freak skiing accident earlier in the year, will make a full recovery.
May 25, 2014
Monaco images
Posted by morewheelspin under formula 1, motorsport, red bull, vettel | Tags: monaco grand prix 2014, pits, red bull racing, vettel |Leave a Comment