FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[myownalias]

The defunct USF1 team have been banned from Formula 1 and fined 309,000 euros(£255,000) for their failure to compete in this year's world championship.

Governing body, the FIA, disqualified them from all future events.

The fine is equivalent to their entry fees to the championship - which will be simply retained - and the costs of bringing a disciplinary case.

The team now have seven days to launch an appeal, but they are not expected to contest the verdict.

After being named as one of four new entries last year, the team ran into financial difficulties.

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone expressed doubts about their ability to make the grid as early as December 2009.

They confirmed to the FIA in February this year - only three weeks prior to the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix - that they would not be able to take part.

In looking into the case, the judging body of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council decided to come down hard on the American team.

US F1 were found guilty of infringement of the International Sporting Code, the sporting regulations of the 2010 Formula One world championship, and the obligations resulting from its entry in the championship.

In their findings ,the FIA concluded US F1 "had displayed poor financial management and had underestimated the requirement to present an F1 car for the 2010 season in the time and with the financial resources available to them."

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 760109.stm

[What's Burning?]

Kick'em when they're down.

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:
The FIA revealed that, during the hearing, US F1 claimed that due to "many negative press comments", the team's "sponsorship climate deteriorated after last Christmas. Bernie Ecclestone's statement in September last year that "possible US F1 are a doubt" was submitted as evidence, but the FIA retorted that US F1 could have countered the statement had the team's "funding, sponsorship and construction processes been on target".

US F1 even argued that negative media coverage amounted to 'force majeure', but the FIA procedure ruled there was "no evidence" of that.


Pfft: Force mineure!

[Stealthgate007]

Peter Windsor should have stayed in broadcasting.. He had a steady job and could go around the world and hang out in the paddock. Now he is out on the street. Wonder what he's doing now....

[darwin dali]

Peter Windsor should have stayed in broadcasting.. He had a steady job and could go around the world and hang out in the paddock. Now he is out on the street. Wonder what he's doing now....

Licking his wounds.

[vaptin]

Seems kinda fair to me.

[Hexagram]

Good riddance with USF1. A right f***ing joke they were. To think we could have had another new team in F1 instead of them.

[texasmr2]

I wonder who will be left footing the fine? Heck I would rather have a US F1 race than a US F1 team without american drivers.

[myownalias]

I wonder who will be left footing the fine? Heck I would rather have a US F1 race than a US F1 team without american drivers.

The fine has already been paid; the FIA will simply keep the entry fee that USF1 paid to get a place in F1!

And to add my two cents worth; I can see USF1's side; Bernie was consistently running his mouth about USF1 which could have impacted sponsorship but I still believe the punishment is fair as USF1 didn't manage their finances well as they didn't even come close to producing a car; let alone a competitive one!

[billindenver]

I can see both sides of this. The USF1 clusterfuck deserves to lose its money for not making the grid and attaching this country's name to such a disaster of poor management. On the other hand, Bernie should be bitch slapped for purposely sending a torpedo into the side of a team trying to get there. What was his reasoning for even putting his opinion up anyway? Isn't he supposed to be expanding the sport? Does his showing doubt in a team further that expansion in any way? That old goat should have kept quiet.

[Paul USA]

I agree with Texasmr2, I seemed to lose interest in USF1 when they announced the non-American drivers. WTF? But I'm planning on going to Texas in 2012.
Also I would like to be the one to bitch slap Bernie for all the idiot things he says.
p.s. too bad Micheal Andretti couldn't get things going when he was in F1.
Ferrari wins Europe GP - you heard it here first.

[texasmr2]

I agree with Texasmr2, I seemed to lose interest in USF1 when they announced the non-American drivers. WTF? But I'm planning on going to Texas in 2012.
Also I would like to be the one to bitch slap Bernie for all the idiot things he says.
p.s. too bad Micheal Andretti couldn't get things going when he was in F1.
Ferrari wins Europe GP - you heard it here first.

You sir have a great future on this forum . Stick with me and you'll go places .

[myownalias]

I agree with Texasmr2, I seemed to lose interest in USF1 when they announced the non-American drivers.

Unfortunately there aren't many drivers from the US that can cut it in F1; which is great shame, the transition from [mostly] oval racing seems to be a difficult one. I don't blame USF1 for that; it's the general poor management of the team that I have issue with; yes Bernie didn't help matters; but even if Bernie kept his mouth shut would USF1 have made it to the grid in time for the start of the 2010 season? Probably not; despite having a head start on the other newbies...

Welcome to the forum Paul

[texasmr2]

Unfortunately there aren't many drivers from the US that can cut it in F1; which is great shame, the transition from [mostly] oval racing seems to be a difficult one.

I disagree, why are you perpetuating the myth?

[mugen]

Rightly so,there were other teams who could have been part of the 2010 grid,Lola,Prodrive(then) BE,s drive for a USA GP won,and so USF1 were allowed to enter,mis managed,under financed and deluded.
BE is as much to blame,not for their demise,but his decision not to look at proven teams more,blinkered and short sighted by everyone concerned.