The Jag F1 team on sale

[Bage]

Seems Ford will not take over the Jag F1 team after all..

for sale (http://www.formula1.com/news/2225.html)

/bage

[chris]

Perhaps Minardi and Jordan should announce their imminent closure too, and we'll see what Bernie decides to do.

Jaguar gone from F1 makes no sense. Just when its cars are starting to perform consistently, Ford withdraws from F1 completely. Absolutely brainless and stupid decision. :rolleyes:

Words don't describe my disgust with Ford at the moment. :irate:

But then, maybe the draconian leadership of F1 and constant instability in rules and regulations is also a deterrent to companies investing any effort in the series.

[chris]

Also Cosworth for sale, which could have very serious implications for Minardi and Jordan F1 teams who both have contracts with Cosworth for engines next year.

Now we have 1 good F1 teams in limbo, and 2 others looking very shaky because of this decision by Ford! Way to go Ford. :irate:

The Cosworth sell-off has wide ranging implications for whatever series has cars powered by Cosworth or Cosworth prepared engines.

[MATT]

It's not as serious as you think, Chris. Cosworth was an independant company until the late 1990s when the racing division got purchased by Ford and the road division by VAG (VW/Audi Group, which is why you don't see any Ford Escort/Focus RS cars carrying the Cosworth name anymore).

They've always had a close relationship with Ford, but they didn't depend on them, really. They will manage. CART/ChampCar also has engines supplied by Ford/Cosworth. Exclusively, even. The only engines they have are Cosworth turbo V8s. The Ford name will simply be dropped, the Cosworth part stays. So long as Cosworth can make a slight profit with all the engines they make, they should have no problems continuing to develop and supply engines to the many racing series of the world.

An interesting thought would be if VAG were to purchase Cosworth's racing division and own the whole thing.. could you imagine an Audi or VW Cosworth?

Don't be mad at Ford. I've been a huge supporter of theirs over the years, but when it comes down to it, if their motorsports participation is not very successful in garnering more sales, then there really is no point in continuing. Things are still somewhat shaky at Ford and they are in need of some revamping. They always bounce back, though. One day I wouldn't be surprised to see Ford once again participating in Grand Prix racing (I was careful not to say F1, because there are signs that manufacturers are still not happy with the FIA/FOM... whoever. There still could be a manufacturer revolt and a rival series created).

An interesting development I never even thought of out of this;

Should Jaguar Racing not be sold as a going concern, some teams would be forced to run a third car under the terms of the Concorde agreement that states that there will be no less that 20 cars on the grid for each race.

That's an excerpt from a news article at f1-live.net

And there is a potential buyer that the same site lists in that article. Arden International may purchase the team. They are a successful F3000 team that has been looking at moving upto F1 for some time now, and this may be their chance. As far as I know, they have not made a move yet, it is pure speculation at this point, but a good possibility.

There are also other manufacturers that I'm sure F1 would love to have in the series as well. I know there are a few who have thrown around the thought of having an F1 team, VAG probably being one of them. While Ford's disappearance seems pretty crappy right now, there may be some interesting things to develop from this yet. I for one am very interesting in seeing what happens.

[chris]

The problem is with whoever buys Cosworth, and their vision, or ideas for Cosworth. What happens if they say, okay, we have our own engineering department, we don't need two, so we integrate whatever Cosworth stuff we need, and get rid of the rest. (workers, equipment, etc).

Unless the current management and workers can put together enough funds to be able to buy it completely, and Cosworth is independant of everyone (good thing).

I'd like to see the Stewarts take over Jaguar Racing again and rename it to Stewart Grand Prix, that would be the nicest solution.

I'm sure Jackie Stewart would be able to get together the money to achieve such a thing, and he might be able to convince the sponsors to stay on as well (HSBC for instance).

But how would that go with Stewart also being boss of the BRDC. And there are the notable clashes between Bernie Ecclestone and Stewart.

There is a surprising amount of goodwill towards Jackie Stewart, and the marketing power of the Stewart name shouldn't be underestimated. The other reason to have Jackie Stewart back in F1 is simple - he's a nice guy, and F1 needs more people like him.

Before Stewart became Jaguar Racing, his cars were actually getting quite fast. At some tracks, the Stewarts with their slippery aerodynamics were achieving the highest straight-line speeds. One year at Germany they achieved 358km/hr with one of their cars. And the same year I think, at the French GP they were right up near the front of the field (it was Rubens Barrichello I think).

[monaro]

nah, get a car manufacturer that has been race proven such as audi to buy the team. we might even get a good championship if we get some fast cars.

[Bage]

Hmm
Ford/Jaguar don't seem to have the commitment needed to really
go for it another season. I think u are right Matt, there are some other players out there that might be more willing to make a substantial effort.

Audi & MB have been fighting hard in the DTM series. MB are already in F1, maybe its time for VAG to make the move too. /oops was mixing all the series up there for a while edited now ^_^ bage/ VAG might have the skill and muscle needed to challange the mid-range teams. VW has also been moving towards the more exclusive cars the last 10 years so it would make sense. Also F1 racing is very big in Germany so the PR would probby do them good, at least if they achive deacent results.

I was hoping that Bjorn Wirdheim who was absolutely outstanding in F3000 last season would get a chance to step up from 3rd driver with Jaguar next season, but honestly i think he should go for Cart or DTM.

/bage

[chris]

If VAG were to enter F1, it should be with Lamborghini, as a rival to Ferrari. Or maybe just enter 2 teams, with near indentical cars and mechanicals, one as Lamborghini, the other as Audi or something like that, so that they get double the reward, for the same development budget.

Sort of like the Audi Speed 8 and Bentley R8R (oops, I think it was the other way around, heh). ;)

[Justin Martin]

Should Jaguar Racing not be sold as a going concern, some teams would be forced to run a third car under the terms of the Concorde agreement that states that there will be no less that 20 cars on the grid for each race.

Interesting...imagine how fast Ferrari could clinch the manufacturer's title if they ran a third car. ^_^

I wonder when the last Ferrari 1-2-3 was in F1? Or if it's ever happened...

[MATT]

Interesting...imagine how fast Ferrari could clinch the manufacturer's title if they ran a third car. ^_^

I wonder when the last Ferrari 1-2-3 was in F1? Or if it's ever happened...

http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr093.html

Yes, it's happened :)

[VQ]

Well, yeah it would be good to see Lamborghini finally in F1's and Audi too, as chris said.

[chris]

I'm still sad to see the Jag team go. :'( I sort of like that team very much. Even Mark Webber admitted it will be very hard to leave that team because they are such a nice group of people these days. Looks like he left at the right time though.

Maybe Jaguar can put on some super-performances before the end of the year and show the Ford manager they are wrong to sell it off.

[VQ]

he was pushing the car earlier in the year and was getting 7th!!! the car wasn't as good then but so it is sorta sad, but maybe ford just don't think they made enough money out of it.