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[What's Burning?]

I'd like to have serious discussion about what could happen to HRT in both the immediate future and the likelihood of its surviving into next year or simply being bought out. Based on the comments by the Automobile Federation of Spain, when your own country's press turn against you, you're in deep trouble they're not going to get a sponsor until there is a viable machine (both literally and figuratively) in those grid spots.

Please let's not turn this into a bashfest with HRT are schiit (we know that) I want to discuss this from a business perspective, and how they could be bought or merged into a team looking to get into the sport. It's got to be the quickest way in for a manufacturer that may be looking to get into the sport.


This was on GPUpdate.

Carlos Gracia, President of the Spanish Automobile Federation, has said that he is ‘annoyed’ with the attitude adopted by national team Hispania Racing, which failed to make the 107 percent qualifying threshold in Melbourne on Saturday.

“I would not say disappointed because new things are coming, but annoyed by the attitude,” Gracia explained to Radio Marca. “I want a serious and consistent Spanish team with the necessary budgets. We do not want a team which makes a fool of itself.”

Gracia’s comments on attitude relate to the post-qualifying feelings of Team Principal Colin Kolles. “We managed to get both cars ready in time for qualifying and proved that the car is capable of running a lot quicker than today,” the Romanian said. “We created a miracle again, but it wasn’t enough.”

[darwin dali]

SEAT (i.e., VW)?

[What's Burning?]

SEAT (i.e., VW)?

Claro que si. That may be asking for a rags to riches story, and I've had my heart broken so many times.

[darwin dali]

SEAT (i.e., VW)?

Claro que si. That may be asking for a rags to riches story, and I've had my heart broken so many times.

[madbrad]

If the Spanish governmentis so concerned with the bad image HRT is giving them, why don't they fund it or shut up?

[Jensonb]

HRT may yet be able to save face. There is every indication that their car is fundamentally faster than the pitiful Marussia Virgin Racing car. Note that whilst Marussia Virgin are still using the lousy Xtrac Gearbox, HRT are using a much more capable Williams drivetrain. Additionally, HRT's car - whilst something of a rush-job upgrade of last year's model (The team were originally hoping to run the unused 2010 Toyota, upgraded for 2011 regulations) - has been overseen by technical genius Geoff Willis. The Marussia Virgin on the other has been once again designed purely through CFD by a relative newcomer to F1 design.

Marussia Virgin would have you believe this is an ideological decision. It's not. No racing team would make an ideological decision to tie one hand behind their back. They've not used a wind tunnel because they're strapped for cash. And their car is shockingly similar to last year's, even more closely resembling its predecessor than does the HRT. And let's be clear - the 2010 HRT was a better car than the 2010 Virgin Racing anyway.

If the car is indeed faster than the Marussia Virgin, it is entirely possible that sponsors will start to trickle in, and the team will find themselves in a more stable position going forwards.

[myownalias]

HRT may yet be able to save face. There is every indication that their car is fundamentally faster than the pitiful Marussia Virgin Racing car. Note that whilst Marussia Virgin are still using the lousy Xtrac Gearbox, HRT are using a much more capable Williams drivetrain. Additionally, HRT's car - whilst something of a rush-job upgrade of last year's model (The team were originally hoping to run the unused 2010 Toyota, upgraded for 2011 regulations) - has been overseen by technical genius Geoff Willis. The Marussia Virgin on the other has been once again designed purely through CFD by a relative newcomer to F1 design.

Marussia Virgin would have you believe this is an ideological decision. It's not. No racing team would make an ideological decision to tie one hand behind their back. They've not used a wind tunnel because they're strapped for cash. And their car is shockingly similar to last year's, even more closely resembling its predecessor than does the HRT. And let's be clear - the 2010 HRT was a better car than the 2010 Virgin Racing anyway.

If the car is indeed faster than the Marussia Virgin, it is entirely possible that sponsors will start to trickle in, and the team will find themselves in a more stable position going forwards.

That may be true but HRT have to get within the 107% qualifying rule; how fast they are on race day is irrelevant if they can't pass the qualifying hurdle, sponsors are going to want the maximum exposure and if HRT can not make it onto the starting grid (how many casual viewers watch FP and Q?); then additional sponsorship is nothing but a dream!

[Frontrunner]

I think any new entrees into F1 have to be a Factory team like Toyota, Honda and BMW which have left in pass years. Names like VW, Porsche or Aston Martin would be cool and wouldn't have the problem with funding.

Hispania really shouldn't of been allowed to enter in the sport in the first place.

[cap-dude]

From a business perspective, having a 13th team doesn't really add anything to the sport. We have enough cars. It's not like Moto GP where there's a shortage of teams and drivers. It'd be far better to just drop Hispania, because at the same time, you have to consider that there's not enough money and sponsorship to go around these days. I'd rather have 10 well structured, good teams, than 15 teams with 3 ready to bankrupt any second.

[myownalias]

Recently the FIA didn't allow a potential 13th team to enter F1 because they didn't meet the financial requirements to run a team for a whole season. Why don't they apply that to all teams, current and new; each team have to prove they have funds in place to pay two drivers, pit crew and put two cars on the grid in all races of the season, that'll exclude HRT and maybe even Virgin!

[Robert12010]

they are nothing sort of a joke and should shut up shop now

[zurich_allan]

they are nothing sort of a joke and should shut up shop now

I guarantee you that you are wrong. I also guarantee you that JensonB is right. I already replied a few days ago on the Aussie GP thread to say as much. HRT's runs in quali were literally the shakedown of the car. By rights they should have been 5 seconds+ away from the 107%. But they weren't. They were 1.5 and 3 seconds respectively. Every team on the grid right now will have found at least 3 seconds in their package (likely closer to 5) between their first shakedown and first qualifying. There is DEFINITELY more pace to be found in that HRT. Assuming they have the funding to stick with it (that much I don't know), they will improve and will be ahead of the Virgin cars, and possibly even the Team Lotus cars within the next 2-3 races. It's the funding that's the issue - not the car.

[Robert12010]

they are nothing sort of a joke and should shut up shop now

I guarantee you that you are wrong. I also guarantee you that JensonB is right. I already replied a few days ago on the Aussie GP thread to say as much. HRT's runs in quali were literally the shakedown of the car. By rights they should have been 5 seconds+ away from the 107%. But they weren't. They were 1.5 and 3 seconds respectively. Every team on the grid right now will have found at least 3 seconds in their package (likely closer to 5) between their first shakedown and first qualifying. There is DEFINITELY more pace to be found in that HRT. Assuming they have the funding to stick with it (that much I don't know), they will improve and will be ahead of the Virgin cars, and possibly even the Team Lotus cars within the next 2-3 races. It's the funding that's the issue - not the car.

are you having a laugh? what pace what funding they are totally patheic

[zurich_allan]

they are nothing sort of a joke and should shut up shop now

I guarantee you that you are wrong. I also guarantee you that JensonB is right. I already replied a few days ago on the Aussie GP thread to say as much. HRT's runs in quali were literally the shakedown of the car. By rights they should have been 5 seconds+ away from the 107%. But they weren't. They were 1.5 and 3 seconds respectively. Every team on the grid right now will have found at least 3 seconds in their package (likely closer to 5) between their first shakedown and first qualifying. There is DEFINITELY more pace to be found in that HRT. Assuming they have the funding to stick with it (that much I don't know), they will improve and will be ahead of the Virgin cars, and possibly even the Team Lotus cars within the next 2-3 races. It's the funding that's the issue - not the car.

are you having a laugh? what pace what funding they are totally patheic

No - I'm not having a laugh - read my full post for my reasoning. If you don't understand the concept that every car on the grid without exeption will have found substantial pace (to differing degrees) between their initial shakedown at their first test, to being on the grid in Australia - then likewise using logic deduce that HRT will also be able to find / unlock potential and also gain pace relatively quickly based on their initial data (which they'll have received for the first time during the quali session they took part in), then I really don't see the point in explaining anything further, because it really is extremely simple logic...

[CarBore]

If they don't qualify for the race they should alteast be able to run a test session to get SOME data otherwise they will be falling further and further behind