F1-Blog

Season 2008

Let’s leave the 2007 season behind us, let’s rather look forward at what may be the highlights of the 2008 season.

First lets speak about the new team next year. After a battle for the last team place on the grid, Pro Drive won, and the rumor has been that they will run McLaren cars, and use the McLaren test drivers for their lineup.

This has however come to question, as Pedro de la Rossa has publicly stated that he will be with the McLaren team again next year.

So if the Pro Drive team don’t take the grid, will they sell their place? and if so who too?

There is also all the driver lineup that will without a shadow of a doubt change. Who will be at McLaren next year? will Alonso stay with the team? will the rumors of Heikki moving to McLaren with Alonso to Renault come to fruition? Will the 2005/2006 world champion not want to go back to Renault now that Flavio will not be as focused on the team? and hey they have not been the world title team that they were just a year ago this season.

Aston Martin to go racing?

Well, it’s been confirmed, David Richards (along with John Sinders, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment) are now the proud new owners of the great English Marque.

It’s certain that for the moment at least the company will still be run by Dr Ulrich Bez, and nothing will really change. David Richards has said that the investment in the company is personal, and nothing to do with ProDrive.

It is however likely after reading the press release that the company will still go racing. They have the DBR9 (that is run by ProDrive) LeMans cars and the press release made great mention of the racing heritage of the brand.

Will the ProDrive F1 team me branded as Aston Martin? or will it be an Aston Martin Mercedes (as that is likely the engine/platform the team will use).

It’s also unknown what level of support the Ford group will now give the company as most of the current Aston product line relies on the Ford/Jaguar technology base.

Aston Martin to come to F1?

It looks like the F1 rumor mill is grinding again. The current hot topic is whether ProDrive will be branded as Aston on the grid in 2008.

David Richards is said to be working with Egyptian investment banks to fund the purchase of the prestige British marque from Ford (funnily it’s one of the only profitable parts of Ford at the moment).

If purchased they would brand the F1 cars with the Marque. This would be good news for the team, not only would they gain instant credibility, but it would also increase their desirability to sponsors.

Another thought on the deal may be that Richards would have to sell his entry in the 2008 championship to someone else to fund the takeover. I doubt that though, as ProDrive have been involved with Aston in it’s LeMan’s program so know the sports division of the company well.

Renaut Engine for ProDrive?

Flavio Briatore has said that the team are looking to supply another team with engines.

"We are keen to supply a second team and we have ample capacity at (engine headquarters) Viry to supply it, with homologated engines coming in, supplying a second team has to be the way to go," Flavio Said. "It would offset a lot of the cost. We would be willing to talk to anyone and the engines would be available for a very reasonable price."

So with ProDrive on the possible look out, perhaps they may talk to Renault.

Prodrive are number 12

As we expected, Prodrive have been given the 12th F1 slot it was announced on Friday.

The Warwickshire based team will enter the championship in the 2008 season, the other 11 teams are the ones from the current F1 lineup.

Prodrive better get a move on and build the new F1 facility then, we do not want them based out of the Banbury WRC garages, as they are not doing very well in WRC this year.

Richards has said "We have won World Rally Championships, British Touring Car titles and the GT1 class at Le Mans, and have been saying for some time that we would also like to be in Formula 1 with our own Prodrive team.æ We are now one step closer. We are confident that the new regulations will not only allow Prodrive to be competitive on an affordable budget, but will also make Formula 1 more exciting and, ultimately, even more entertaining for spectators and TV audiences around the world. "