F1 » YouTube to swap USF1 for Campos?

If they lose the Youtube money than that would be the nail in the coffin.

Wolfy35, Moseley announced hours before the decision process that only Cosworth powered teams would be considered. All his pet teams, like Virgin /Manor who just happened to also be employing his sidekick Donnelley were down as Cosworth. Other far more capable teams spent millions preparing bids, only to find out they were worthless because Max was going to hand it to his "buddies" anyway, so he could wrestle all control away from anybody who dared to question his total authority.

@Dastardly, Peter Windsor worked for Willaims in a senior position for years. I do not see him as a conman, but cannot explain USF1's seeming failure. Siting a team outside England is not a good idea for one..

@ Alan D

I can not argue against your philosophy as you are totally correct.

In saying this the FIA are not in a position to hold kindergarten and pander the teams in question. The principals have to accept resposibility somewhere along the line.

Somebody commented that Peter Windsor was a Con Man. I think this is a particularly harsh statement. Peter Windsor has a way with words but con man NO.

I would like to think this topic is only another rumour in particular for USF1 and the American support. F1 I feel does need U.S.A to be a true world national sport and USF1 was going to provide the tool and this is emanating from an Australian.

Let's wait and see if the rumours actually come to pass before making judgement.

Stefan GP have the backing of the Serbian government so why can't USF1 and Campos get the backing of their governments?

Also, USF1 have apparently been planning an F1 entry since 2006 so how can there be this much uncertanty about their ability to make the grid in Bahrain?

Commodore, with the tracks, they have to pass a safety inspection 4 months before the actual race. If they don't pass then they risk losing the race and any bond they've paid over the FOM. That's not "hand holding", its FOM protecting itself.

With the teams, yes the team principals have to take responsibility for failure to turn up, but equally the FIA have to take responsibility for allowing a situation to develop where a team can miss the first three races without penalty because it hasn't finished building its car yet and the FIA cannot do a thing about it, even though Stefan is waiting in the wings ready to go.

I fully agree with those that have said the teams chosen were terrible picks, and the decision was based on the Cosworth deal rather than ability to actually deliver a racing team.

But this is Formula ONE. We want quality, not quantity. Why on earth did anyone think 4 or 5 new teams could suddenly appear, WITHOUT budget capping, in the middle of a recession? Forti, Arrows, Super Aguri, Prost etc all went under in better financial climes.
And Stefan? Give me a break. A team of unknowns running last year's Toyota with 2 clapped-out drivers at the wheel does not a credible F1 team make. Lets just stick with Virgin/Lotus as new teams, give them the support they need, and forget the others.

@fellainishair

Hang on, The Virgin team can hardly be described as a terrible pick

Taz, considering all the troubles they had compared to fake Lotus, you can hardly call Virgin the best pick. Not saying they are terrible or are going to fail (wish them the best, along with the greenies), but if Lotus can come up with a car in half a year that, on its first test, beats Virgin/Manor: you have to realize something went wrong there

@Taz

Sorry, i didn't make that very clear. Of the 4 teams picked, Virgin/Manor and Lotus always seemed the more credible, but like a lot of posters above, I am bemused as to why USF1 (no racing experience) and Campos (a mediocre record in lower formulae but no obvious sources of funding) were picked ahead of Lola or Prodrive. In saying that though, Lola were hardly a success last time they raced and Prodrive never looked like they had funds to build their own car.
My point is that there simply aren't 4 teams who have the funds or ability to come straight into F1. The flounderings of USF1 and Campos have made the sport look amateurish, and unlike some, I hardly see Stefan as the solution