Formula 1 Silly Season 2015

By +Frank B.
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Grand Master

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Updated grid:

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Executive Director Business: Toto Wolff ; Executive Director Technical: Paddy Lowe ; Technical Director: Bob Bell
44. Lewis Hamilton (signed for ?13-?15)
6. Nico Rosberg (on a multi-year deal beyond ?13)
 
Infiniti Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing RB11 ? Renault Energy F1-2015 (engine deal until ?16)
Team Principal: Christian Horner ; Chief Technical Officer: Adrian Newey
3. Daniel Ricciardo (on a long-term deal)
25. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Williams Martini Racing
Williams FW37 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Frank Williams ; Technical Director: Pat Symonds
19. Felipe Massa (confirmed for '15)
77. Valtteri Bottas (confirmed for '15)
 
Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari F15T ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Marco Mattiacci ; Technical Director: James Allison; Engineering Director: Pat Fry
5. Sebastian Vettel (on a three-year contract)
7. Kimi R?ikk?nen (contracted through ?15)

 McLaren Honda
McLaren MP4-30 ? Honda RA168-E 1.6 V6T
Team Principal: Ron Dennis, ?ric Boullier ; Technical Director: Tim Goss, Neil Oatley
22. Jenson Button (option for ?15)
20. Kevin Magnussen (on a long-term deal?)
14. Fernando Alonso (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)
**. Stoffel Vandoorne (part of McLaren junior driver program)

 Force India F1 Team
Force India VJM08 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Vijay Mallya ; Technical Director: Andrew Green
27. Nico H?lkenberg (confirmed for '15)
11. Sergio P?rez (confirmed for '15)
 
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso STR10 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Franz Tost ; Technical Director: James Key
38. Max Verstappen (Red Bull junior driver, on a long-term deal)
25. Jean-?ric Vergne (current driver)
**. Carlos Sainz, jr. (Red Bull junior driver)
**. Pierre Gasly (Red Bull junior driver)
**. Alex Lynn (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Lotus F1 Team
Lotus E23 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Team Principal: G?rard Lopez ; Technical Director: Nick Chester
13. Pastor Maldonado (confirmed for '15)
8. Romain Grosjean
 
Sauber F1 Team (team rumoured to be (partly?) sold)
Sauber C34 ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Monisha Kaltenborn ; Chief Designer: Eric Gandelin
9. Marcus Ericsson (confirmed)
40. Felipe Nasr (confirmed)
 
Caterham F1 Team (went into administration in October '14)
Caterham CT05 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Manfredi Ravetto ; Technical Director: Colin Kolles
10. Kamui Kobayashi
**. ...
Forza Rossa Racing to participate from '16; expected to run French power units
Haas F1 Team to participate from '16; Ferrari technical partnership confirmed.
Manor F1/Marussia has folded as of November 7, 2014.

Grand Master

+Frank B. Subscriber²

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Updated grid:

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Executive Director Business: Toto Wolff ; Executive Director Technical: Paddy Lowe ; Technical Director: Bob Bell
44. Lewis Hamilton (signed for ?13-?15)
6. Nico Rosberg (on a multi-year deal beyond ?13)
 
Infiniti Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing RB11 ? Renault Energy F1-2015 (engine deal until ?16)
Team Principal: Christian Horner ; Chief Technical Officer: Adrian Newey
3. Daniel Ricciardo (on a long-term deal)
25. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Williams Martini Racing
Williams FW37 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Frank Williams ; Technical Director: Pat Symonds
19. Felipe Massa (confirmed for '15)
77. Valtteri Bottas (confirmed for '15)
 
Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari F15T ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Marco Mattiacci ; Technical Director: James Allison; Engineering Director: Pat Fry
5. Sebastian Vettel (on a three-year contract)
7. Kimi R?ikk?nen (contracted through ?15)

 McLaren Honda
McLaren MP4-30 ? Honda RA168-E 1.6 V6T
Team Principal: Ron Dennis, ?ric Boullier ; Technical Director: Tim Goss, Neil Oatley
22. Jenson Button (option for ?15)
20. Kevin Magnussen (on a long-term deal?)
14. Fernando Alonso (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)
**. Stoffel Vandoorne (part of McLaren junior driver program)

 Force India F1 Team
Force India VJM08 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Vijay Mallya ; Technical Director: Andrew Green
27. Nico H?lkenberg (confirmed for '15)
11. Sergio P?rez (confirmed for '15)
 
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso STR10 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Franz Tost ; Technical Director: James Key
38. Max Verstappen (Red Bull junior driver, on a long-term deal)
**. Carlos Sainz, jr. (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Lotus F1 Team
Lotus E23 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Team Principal: G?rard Lopez ; Technical Director: Nick Chester
13. Pastor Maldonado (confirmed for '15)
8. Romain Grosjean
 
Sauber F1 Team (team rumoured to be (partly?) sold)
Sauber C34 ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Monisha Kaltenborn ; Chief Designer: Eric Gandelin
9. Marcus Ericsson (confirmed)
40. Felipe Nasr (confirmed)
 
Caterham F1 Team (went into administration in October '14)
Caterham CT05 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Manfredi Ravetto ; Technical Director: Colin Kolles
10. Kamui Kobayashi
**. ...
Forza Rossa Racing to participate from '16; expected to run French power units
Haas F1 Team to participate from '16; Ferrari technical partnership confirmed.
Manor F1/Marussia has folded as of November 7, 2014.

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Grand Master

MightyJordan

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Caterham have been given dispensation to compete in 2015 with this year?s car should a buyer be found for the team.

 
The key decision was taken during last week?s Formula One Commission meeting in Geneva, and allows administration-hit Caterham an opportunity to be on the grid next year.
 
For a potential purchaser it now means there is no pressure to build a car for 2015, particularly as time is of the essence, and all the inherent costs that would apply.
 
With the decision to be ratified by this week?s meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Doha, it would allow a new owner to at least be in F1 with a base on which to build for 2016.
 
Speaking to Press Association Sport, administrator Finbarr O?Connell said: ?The F1 Commission and FIA agreed if it would assist the weaker teams they can use the 2014 car next year, so giving them more time and options.
 
?That is of interest to all the parties I?m talking to because it gives them a choice, an easier start to get into F1 if they chose that route. It helps.?
 
Following Leafield-based Caterham?s appearance at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi last month, O?Connell had stated a deal before Christmas was crucial if the team were to survive.
 
The F1 Commission?s decision has now taken some of the burden off of O?Connell to conclude a sale prior to the festive season.
 
?Before Christmas would still be ideal,? added O?Connell.
 
?It now doesn?t have to happen by then, but the earlier the better from my point of view, and I?m encouraging people as much as I can.
 
?It?s a very difficult purchase decision for any party because of the huge costs involved in running a F1 team.
 
?I?m still talking to a few interested parties, and I?m hoping one of them can do the deal.
 
?The number of people I?m talking to has increased, with two very strong candidates, and a third less strong.
 
?All I can do is show what I have, show the team, the assets and the facilities, and facilitate in any way I can with them making a decision.
 
?I remain confident something will be done.?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/dec/01/caterham-cleared-same-car-2015

Grand Master

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I really find the whole Caterham business really confusing. I know they made Abu Dhabi largely through Crowd Cube (and selling off a ton of old kit). But if you were a potential buyer, Surely Marussia with their 2 points and 9th place would be a much more attractive proposition?

 

Given that next year is more of an evolution of this year (I'm not aware of any big rule changes other than the nose) then it doesn't surprise me about this.

Grand Master

MightyJordan

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I really find the whole Caterham business really confusing. I know they made Abu Dhabi largely through Crowd Cube (and selling off a ton of old kit). But if you were a potential buyer, Surely Marussia with their 2 points and 9th place would be a much more attractive proposition?

 

Given that next year is more of an evolution of this year (I'm not aware of any big rule changes other than the nose) then it doesn't surprise me about this.

Yeah, it's weird Caterham seem to be getting bailed out over Marussia after the season they've had. I was thinking maybe potential sanctions from Europe and America are deterring investors away from Marussia (what with the current sanctions they've applied on Russia), but that's probably delving into tinfoil hat territory. I'm gonna guess it's the name; Caterham have been around for a while and they do have a fair bit of racing history - probably two reasons why the Lotus name (with their even bigger racing history) was brought back into F1 a few years ago.

Grand Master

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Yeah, it's weird Caterham seem to be getting bailed out over Marussia after the season they've had. I was thinking maybe potential sanctions from Europe and America are deterring investors away from Marussia (what with the current sanctions they've applied on Russia), but that's probably delving into tinfoil hat territory. I'm gonna guess it's the name; Caterham have been around for a while and they do have a fair bit of racing history - probably two reasons why the Lotus name (with their even bigger racing history) was brought back into F1 a few years ago.

 

Maybe so, maybe the group that was trying to take over Caterham are still trying to get their act together and actually put up the funds they were supposed to earlier in the year. I hadn't thought about the whole Russia element, I think its possibly unlikely but I wouldn't rule that out completely.

 

Caterham (at least in the UK) Is a much bigger name, until this team came a long I had not heard of Marussia before. I've seen a Canadian company bought the GP2 outfit (Status GP I believe) so maybe they could be working on a deal for the F1 side also?

 

I'm sure I've said this before... but love the Avatar (Y)

Grand Master

+Fahim S. MVC

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I really find the whole Caterham business really confusing. I know they made Abu Dhabi largely through Crowd Cube (and selling off a ton of old kit). But if you were a potential buyer, Surely Marussia with their 2 points and 9th place would be a much more attractive proposition?

 

Given that next year is more of an evolution of this year (I'm not aware of any big rule changes other than the nose) then it doesn't surprise me about this.

 

Do the points really make a material difference here?  In this sort of scenario, you are buying the people and the facilities - not the success (if you want to call it that).

Grand Master

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Do the points really make a material difference here?  In this sort of scenario, you are buying the people and the facilities - not the success (if you want to call it that).

This will help, its a little complicated but if you pay more attention to the top 10 Equal Shares in the Centre, you will see that 9th place last year, which went to Torro Rosso gained them $68.3 Million in prize money. Opposed to the $10 Million that Marussia got. With success comes money, that's why the top teams stay at the top. Winning a championship isn't just about bragging rights.

 

Assuming the numbers stay exactly the same, that's a massive chunk more. Especially when you consider that Caterham are 11th and will only get the $10 million this year (although I head that was potentially not going to happen this year).

 

f1-payment-structures3.jpg

Grand Master

MightyJordan

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I'm sure I've said this before... but love the Avatar (Y)

Actually, you haven't. :p Hope he makes a full recovery soon. #ForzaJules

 

Do the points really make a material difference here?  In this sort of scenario, you are buying the people and the facilities - not the success (if you want to call it that).

Well, Marussia were set to gain $50 million as a result of those two points, and they were developing a 2015 car, so you'd think they'd be the more attractive investment over Caterham, but Caterham's special dispensation changes that now.

Grand Master

MightyJordan

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The 2015 F1 calendar will feature a record-breaking 21 races as the Korea International Circuit makes a surprise return to Formula One next year.

 
Here is next year?s schedule as ratified by the FIA?s World Motor Sports Council today:

post-151617-0-60272600-1417624475.png

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/12/03/record-21-races-2015-korea-makes-surprise-return/

Grand Master

MightyJordan

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The FIA has officially confirmed the controversial double points rule will be dropped as of 2015.

 
The rule, which was introduced this year with the aim of increasing the chance the drivers championship would remain open until the final race, was widely criticised by fans. Its removal from the regulations was confirmed following a meeting of the FIA?s World Motor Sports Council.
 
A plan to introduce standing starts after every Safety Car period has also been scrapped ?after consultation with the teams who raised a number of safety concerns?.
 
However the Virtual Safety Car, which was trialled following the crash suffered by Jules Bianchi in Japan, will be introduced next year.
 
?Following tests of the VSC system at the final Events of 2014, the introduction of the system has been approved for 2015,? said the FIA in a statement.
 
?The VSC procedure may be initiated to neutralise a race upon the order of the clerk of the course. It will normally be used when double waved yellow flags are needed on any section of track and competitors or officials may be in danger, but the circumstances are not such as to warrant use of the safety car itself.?

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/12/03/double-points-standing-restarts-vsc-2015/ (full VSC rules are there, too)

Grand Master

MightyJordan

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Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen face an even longer wait for McLaren to make its 2015 Formula 1 line-up decision after a team board meeting failed to resolve the issue.

 
Following weeks of deliberation at McLaren about whether or not Button's experience or Magnussen's longer-term potential were best to partner with Fernando Alonso in 2015, all eyes were on the outcome of a board meeting that took place in Woking on Thursday.
 
However, despite lengthy discussions relating to a host of McLaren issues, a team spokesman confirmed that no agreement was reached on what it would do with its drivers in 2015.
 
The spokesman said: "Today's board meeting has now concluded, and no decision has been taken with regard to our 2015 driver line-up."

The ongoing delay in McLaren's decision on drivers appears baffling, because the team has been well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of both men for some time now - so has all the information it needs to pick the man it thinks will be best.
 
However, there may be commercial factors at play - as the team bids to secure fresh sponsorship funds to ensure it can make the most of its new era with Honda.
 
Both drivers appeared at a promotional event in Edinburgh on Thursday for McLaren sponsor Johnnie Walker, and Button made clear that he wanted a decision as quickly as possible.
 
"I'm now really comfortable, and whatever happens I will have a great year next year," he told the Press Association.
 
"New challenges are exciting, whether it's in Formula 1 with McLaren alongside an exciting team-mate, or whether it's elsewhere.
 
"So I'm good, but I just want to get it done. I want to hear the decision - as we all do - so we can all move on in whatever direction."
 
In the end, Button may decide that he can no longer wait for McLaren to make a decision and could choose to seek a drive elsewhere in motor sport - most likely in sportscars.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117042

Grand Master

MightyJordan

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