PRODRIVE F1 bid

[Chiefy]

If Prodrive is struggling to make any headway then perhaps Mr Richards could pick up Coughlan and Stepney, to work on a 2009 car (assuming the 2008 car will be purchased from another team). Similarly he could take a punt on Scott Speed, who I believe is out of work at the moment!

It's a wide-of-the-mark (inappropriate?) suggestion but I just thought I'd throw it in there. I'm still not sure what I think about Coughlan and Stepney and don't want to get too involved in the banter - but in honesty I wouldn't really want Speed in my team. Still, he's got some experience... Speed and de la Rosa, anyone?

[nycuk]

Looks like an announcement is now imminent.

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19526.html

[ss_collins]

One thing that story does not touch on - does Prodrive really have an Autoclave big enough for a chassis (tub). Those are few and far between

[chunterer]

Dunno about the facilities Sam but i've read somewhere else something about Bruno Spengler being touted as one of the drivers??

I would assume he'll have a test in a full blown McLaren anyway later this year and it would be interesting to see how quickly he comes to terms with the F1 car.

[egomeister]

Originally Posted by ss_collins

One thing that story does not touch on - does Prodrive really have an Autoclave big enough for a chassis (tub). Those are few and far between

Yep it does

[Coniston]

Still nothing yet announced on team or location?

[JamesRamone]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61673

Looks like Mclaren are "closest". Not too sure who else would be close to them. Toyota?

[jab]

BMW and Renault perhaps?

[Sev]

I still think they should give Paul Di Resta a drive.

He beat Vettel in F3, he's doing astonishingly in DTM, and he's clearly better than Paffet. Ohh, and he's a Mercedes driver.

[FPV GTHO]

Since they got the contract in '06, they made no secret of chasing the top 3, who at the time were Renault, Ferrari and McLaren. With the engine supply restrictions, Ferrari and Renault are out of the picture as a complete customer unit. McLaren and BMW are the only ones left able to supply a full customer unit. They can still take a Renault, Ferrari, Toyota or Honda chassis, just not the engine. Of course, they could also take a Williams or Red Bull chassis.

[ss_collins]

-3.5 m diameter x 5 m in length
is the biggest Autoclave at Prodrive, I think this is big enough - but only just _ I'm pretty sure the other teams have much bigger ones for tubs.

Like Dome's (one on the left) - Toyotas is that size (well they have two that size) Spyker don't actually have an Autoclave big enough to do a tub - they outsource it.



with a bloke for scale with I think No.5

[duke_toaster]

They have an autoclave to cook a chassis in, but why would you do want to do one when they could get get customer ones from McLaren - unless the team is just "Prodrive" or "McProdrive", I wonder what they will call it. Before the DaimlerChrysler "divorce" it could have been touted as a Dodge factory team ... Maybach?

[jab]

Smart F1?

[egomeister]

I see the Prodrive team being totally outsourced, rather than doing anything themselves. I suspect that whoever is their supplier will provide the majority of the manpower and production capacity to run the cars.

[JamesRamone]

Originally Posted by Sev

I still think they should give Paul Di Resta a drive.

He beat Vettel in F3, he's doing astonishingly in DTM, and he's clearly better than Paffet. Ohh, and he's a Mercedes driver.

Not to drift off topic but what are you basing this on that he is "clearly" better than Paffett? They are both very talented and i wouldn't put much between them talent wise

[Gt_R]

I actually believe that Mclaren-Prodrive deal is actually more than already agreed. The only reason holding Prodrive back is that Mclaren is currently messing with bad publicity, and Prodrive won't want their announcement (which is a big deal for Prodrive) to be overshadowed by the scandals, let alone be implicated.

The talk about 2 other teams in talk, i think those are unlikely... and the only reason why Prodrive engage in discussion is to use them as a bargaining chip and to cross reference any price/arrangements/quotations that Mclaren offered with the "market" standards.

I'd be surprised, even if pleasantly, that BMW manage to nick the deal from Mercedes though!

[Coniston]

Surely must be some news very soon on drivers, team location, staff, etc???

[Dutton]

Not necessarily.

It may already be in place and stuff, but they are just waiting for the right time to announce.

This means they may not say anything until December, or something.

[Nicholosophy]

I believe that for the first couple of years Prodrive will outsource all of their chassis building. However after those first few years I think they will start making some parts for the cars and grow into a full constructor within five years.

It is a good way to get into F1. Start with some reliable technology, grow your knowledge of the technology and systems required, grow the team around that technological and system requirements, and then slowing take on more responsibility (step by step) until the entire car is Prodrive designed and built.

[Born Racer]

From Thursday´s Monza press conference Liuzzi comments that

“At the moment I'm focused just on (race) driving, because I think in the last two years we didn't have many chances to show what we can do because we were always in difficult conditions so I hope that for next year, if it happens, that I can stay in Formula 1, if possible in a stronger situation, so I'm pushing hard to be a driver, one of the 22.”

22? Does he know something we don´t?

[Oldtony]

All very interesting but why do I get the impression that everything at Prodrive is hanging in the air until McMerc know what is happening to McLaren in 2008.
If THe McLaren part of McMerc is out for 2008 the logical thing is to transfer the intelectual and physical assets to a bright, shiney and obviously innocent new Prodrive team along with the Merc name anf\d hardware.
It is quite possible to seperate the assets from the name. Just ask Mr Walkinshaw how he has managed it in Australia. So next year Prodrive Mercedes is the A team instead of being the customer team.
I suggested this development a couple of weeks ago in jest. It is starting to look like a very good idea for everyone concerned.
How does "Lewis Hamilton and Prodrive Mercedes clinch 2008 Championships", sound for a headline in October 2008?

[Born Racer]

Well Oldtony, the FIA really need to ensure such a thing does not happen.

Just one more example of why A-teams and B-teams are a bad idea. Where does the separation between two such teams lie? Answer: wherever those teams damn well like!

[williamsf1]

well looking further it "may" be the case that both spanish drivers at Macca are the source of the "new" evidence.... could they both be off??

[Born Racer]

In a letter from Max Mosley to the three McLaren drivers (see formula1.com), he writes:

I can confirm, given the importance of this issue, that any information you may make available in response to this letter will not result in any proceedings against you under the International Sporting Code or the Formula One regulations. However, in the event that it later comes to light that you have withheld any potentially relevant information, serious consequences could follow.

I don´t understand how the drivers can be promised that they will receive no punishment if they give information. Let´s say, for example, that De La Rosa had loads of Ferrari data and has been making use of it. Why should he be promised immunity from punishment?

[Adam43]

I think you missed the right thread with that one!