Flavio Briatore to take over Prost??

[Rimrider]

I think Bernie will bail Prost out. He wont want to loose a team from the grid.

[Stephen Green]

I agree with you ST, it looks as though HHF's days as a GP driver might be severely limited. I guess Minardi would be interested if HHF could bring some of his German sponsorship to the team and take the pressure off Stoddard for a year or two, or maybe Toyota from the 2003 season if either McNish or Salo don't perform. But for next year I think HHF might just find himself sitting out the season.

[Bononi]

Uhn...the reality is that Prost won't be there in 2002.


Diniz already stated that Prost should not be on the grid next season.

[Stephen Green]

Yes, but I daresay he's trying to get as much of his money back as possible and is therefore an interested party?

[Nicholas]

Flva wants money, whigh Prost GP doens't have. So maybe not.

[Super Tourer]

The only possible light at the end of the tunnel for Prost is a motor manufacturer buying his team to gain entry to F1. With Bernie making a limit of a 24 car grid and Toyota filling the last spots, Prost may make an easy (and very cheap) target. Having said that, I am sure Audi/VW (the next mooted entrant) will hold a watching brief on Toyota to see how well they do as both an engine builder and chassis constructor.

My feeling is, if they do enter at all, it will be as an engine maufacturer a la BMW. This has generally proved to be an easier route, and just as profitable in marketing terms, as building the total car and engine.

I can't see anybody taking over the team as they patently have nothing to offer. If Ferrari don't get paid for their 2001 engine bills, then an engine deal also looks unlikely.

All in all its a total mess that I am sure accountants & solictors will derive income from for years - with no real winners at the end.

[Super Tourer]

Stephen - BTW

Pedro and his father have repeatedly offered Prost $1 for his team plus taking on 'some' of his liabities. Prost has always turned this down - the receivers may take this kind of offer more seriously.

There is a downside - which is that because the majority of Prost's debts are owed to 2001 suppliers, unless they are paid, whoever owns the team still faces a 2002 with no engines, tyres, etc. This means it will still cost at least $30million to sort it out regardless of who owns it.

The Diniz family hold the key to the parmalat money - but I guess this is directly linked to how much Diniz Snr spends on Parmalat products for his supermarkets in 2002......

[f1manoz]

This from Planet-F1:

'Briatore was first linked to Prost four months ago, and now British newspaper The Guardian has speculated that the Renault team boss could still be interested in making a takeover bid.

According to the newspaper, Flavio could negotiate a deal with Renault that would allow him to step in and help Alain Prost’s struggling team.

Elsewhere, after being listed as a shareholder in Prost Grand Prix by Alain Prost last week, Pedro Diniz has told the Brazilian media that he has little to do with the team since his attempt to take it over failed earlier this year.

“We negotiated to buy the team until the 15 August, but our proposal was not accepted,” Diniz told Estadeo news agency.

"From that time I distanced myself from the operation in full."

Pedro is currently concentrating all his efforts on the newly launched Brazilian Formula Renault Championship.'

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Perhaps we may see a Prost-Renault next season? Or maybe Flavio can get a batch of the old Supertecs together. Hey, it's better than nothing right!

However, after the team was declared bankrupt last week, it will take a mammoth effort to get the team ready for Melbourne. They need 2 drivers, an engine deal and chassis to be built.

Also, have team personnel been payed from last year? We know Alesi was not payed for many months, and if a team has trouble paying it's star driver, then something is dreadfully wrong.

What may save the team is if Prost manages to get Enge with his Coca-Cola support, that's if Coke want to sponsor an F1 team. They may not be able to keep HHF as he may ask for too much, although there is tremendous respect between driver and owner. This is why a pay driver would be most needed by Prost, but please Alain, don't bring back Gaston!!!!

[ozrevhead]

Originally posted by f1manoz

What may save the team is if Prost manages to get Enge with his Coca-Cola support, that's if Coke want to sponsor an F1 team. They may not be able to keep HHF as he may ask for too much, although there is tremendous respect between driver and owner. This is why a pay driver would be most needed by Prost, but please Alain, don't bring back Gaston!!!!

as i have said before it would be very good to see flavio buy prost

Originally posted by steve nielsen
There are rumours that Flavio Briatore wants to take over Prost, give them Renault/Megachrome engines, and hire Aloso and Webber to drive the cars. Sounds good to me

it would be OUT OF THIS WORLD if the second part of steve's rumor was true too Having mark webber in f1 would be fantastic (sure would cheer me up after the socceroos debacle!)

GO MARK WEBBER!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stephen Green]

ST I take your point about the Diniz family. It's going to be an interesting winter isn't it!

I see that Alain is still talking about trying to find a big sponsor, but in the current economic climate I think he is going to struggle. As you say, maybe the liquidators/administrators will force the issue, especially if they can get some of this years suppliers paid in part or full?