Where to for Caterham? - Page 5

fourWheelDrift · 1 Nov 2012, 17:21 (Ref:3161134)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Every Team on the grid now deserves to be there. Yeah, even HRT and Marussia.

Personally I'd rather have a fuller field even if some of the teams are a bit off the pace, in fact in terms of the gap in lap times to the front running teams I suspect Caterham and the like are a lot closer than Minardi ever were though I can't say I've any stats to back that up.

What wrankles though is that in the past even the slowest teams on the grid were competing to stay there, if a team who weren't in F1 came along with a faster car they could qualify it and bump Minardi off the grid. With the franchise system today Caterham, HRT and Marrusia can just squat on those last three places indefinitely even if a genuine contender comes along with a faster car.

Paradise City · 1 Nov 2012, 18:11 (Ref:3161154)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourWheelDrift

Personally I'd rather have a fuller field even if some of the teams are a bit off the pace, in fact in terms of the gap in lap times to the front running teams I suspect Caterham and the like are a lot closer than Minardi ever were though I can't say I've any stats to back that up.

What wrankles though is that in the past even the slowest teams on the grid were competing to stay there, if a team who weren't in F1 came along with a faster car they could qualify it and bump Minardi off the grid. With the franchise system today Caterham, HRT and Marrusia can just squat on those last three places indefinitely even if a genuine contender comes along with a faster car.

Now you've said it. 39 cars attempting to get 26 places was probably a bit OTT but 28-30 for 26 places might be OK. Tell aspiring F1 teams there's no guarantee to qualify and if they understand that, still have the desire and the cash, then welcome to the show.

Supertec · 3 Nov 2012, 08:42 (Ref:3161798)

FP1 didnt go the way van der Garde had hoped, with lots of press releases coming from Caterham concerning Giedo. I guess he's one of their drivers for next season. He's well funded by his father in law. I hope he can perform in F1 as well as he has done in the past.

EastonNeston · 4 Nov 2012, 15:19 (Ref:3162384)

Excellent drive from Heikki today, so close to getting a 12th place finish.

**Bononi** · 4 Nov 2012, 19:32 (Ref:3162550)

It's getting better everyday.

wolfhound · 5 Nov 2012, 13:54 (Ref:3162885)

Caterham and Renault have announced a joint venture to develop Alpine road cars.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/...m-and-renault/

That could produce some interesting results, and does it have any F1 consequences. One would have thought Lotus should have got that deal but then it has its own problems.

VIVA GT · 5 Nov 2012, 15:53 (Ref:3162933)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Caterham and Renault have announced a joint venture to develop Alpine road cars.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/...m-and-renault/

That could produce some interesting results, and does it have any F1 consequences. One would have thought Lotus should have got that deal but then it has its own problems.

A very interesting development.
I'd also expect some additional spin-off effect with regard to future Caterham models too (like the Lotus / Vauxhall VX220).
A shrewd move by Caterham which will benefit the F1 and road car sides of the business.

wolfhound · 6 Nov 2012, 16:45 (Ref:3163426)

Tony Fernandes is to step down as Caterham F1 team principal and move to the road car business. He says he knows who his replacement will be will reveal who it is later.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104084

Now I wonder who has got the job as it is somebody working in F1. Who is on gardening leave at the moment? might provide a clue.

TWRv12 · 6 Nov 2012, 16:58 (Ref:3163432)

Bizzare. Ex-Lotus team looking to make sports cars and some sort of city cars, while Lotus goes backward, but the EnstoneF1/Lotus wins.

Mekola · 6 Nov 2012, 20:16 (Ref:3163494)

Hope Mr Fernandes won't want to rebrand his F1 team as "Alpine"...

VIVA GT · 7 Nov 2012, 08:11 (Ref:3163638)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mekola

Hope Mr Fernandes won't want to rebrand his F1 team as "Alpine"...

No, but maybe it'll become RENAULT! (That'd be somewhat ironic!)

VIVA GT · 7 Nov 2012, 13:27 (Ref:3163742)

Sniff Petrol have their slant on the Renault tie-up.
http://sniffpetrol.com/2012/11/07/re...rhamcancelled/

Marbot · 7 Nov 2012, 13:55 (Ref:3163749)

I don't know what the problem is? Renault are famous for having quirky cars! Although, a tie-up with Citroen might have been more appropriate.

321Go · 8 Nov 2012, 11:33 (Ref:3164058)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Now I wonder who has got the job as it is somebody working in F1.

Mr Cyril Abiteboul, current deputy Managing Director for Renault Sport F1.

chillibowl · 8 Nov 2012, 15:27 (Ref:3164117)

35 years old. F1 is getting younger and younger in the team principle department. up until now i thought it a good thing as guys like Horner and Boullier had considerable experience in lower formuals before taking on the top job in F1 but im bit more skeptical of this move.

this team needs cash more than anything and this guy is not even a financial guru to back up his lack of experience. but from all accounts he is young and smart...i hope thats enough.

totally speculating but if this is the initial steps in a return for a Renault factory team that would be cool.

OZ_HCR32 · 18 Nov 2012, 03:47 (Ref:3167709)

Well, its starting to look like a team with good intentions and getting done by Marussia

They have better engines, funding, KERS and can't even put Marussia behind them on the grid.

Not looking good

Marbot · 18 Nov 2012, 16:04 (Ref:3167959)

If Marussia get that 10th place, then it should be considered to be a bit of a disaster for Caterham. Particularly as Marussia will also have KERS for next season.

VIVA GT · 18 Nov 2012, 16:36 (Ref:3167971)

I must say that initially I was championing the cause of Caterham.
I was on their side in all the argy-bargy over the use of the Lotus name, and I did used to rate Mike Gascoigne as a designer/engineer. However, their gradual decline this season has until recently missed my notice, but now I come to think about it, they appear to be CRAP!

**Bononi** · 18 Nov 2012, 19:57 (Ref:3168049)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I must say that initially I was championing the cause of Caterham.
I was on their side in all the argy-bargy over the use of the Lotus name, and I did used to rate Mike Gascoigne as a designer/engineer. However, their gradual decline this season has until recently missed my notice, but now I come to think about it, they appear to be CRAP!

Big crap !

Knowlesy · 18 Nov 2012, 21:40 (Ref:3168107)

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

Excellent drive from Heikki today, so close to getting a 12th place finish.

For some reason this made me laugh.

Flavio Galtieri · 20 Nov 2012, 18:18 (Ref:3169117)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillibowl

this team needs cash more than anything and this guy is not even a financial guru to back up his lack of experience. but from all accounts he is young and smart...i hope thats enough.

I think you'll find they are better funded than many teams in the mid-field.

chillibowl · 20 Nov 2012, 19:42 (Ref:3169143)

i would love to find out but the question is where? does anyone have any links to what their reported operating budget is? the only mid field team i could see them spending more than is Sauber.

they cant be outspending Williams, FI, or Toro Rosso can they?

**BertMk2** · 26 Nov 2012, 09:19 (Ref:3171586)

Well Caterham got lucky and grabbed 10th place back from Marussia - potentially that'll make a big difference. Certainly gives them a bit more choice on the driver front.

**GTRMagic** · 26 Nov 2012, 10:52 (Ref:3171633)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Well Caterham got lucky and grabbed 10th place back from Marussia - potentially that'll make a big difference. Certainly gives them a bit more choice on the driver front.

But its unfortunate that the bloke who got them the 11th place in Brazil seems destined for the scrapheap

**BertMk2** · 26 Nov 2012, 11:32 (Ref:3171648)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

But its unfortunate that the bloke who got them the 11th place in Brazil seems destined for the scrapheap

True - but did they get that 11th because the bloke going there next season didn't put up much of a fight? Did Pic let him through?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Caterham Graduates - a few Q's	molydood	National & Club Racing	5	27 Apr 2005 15:43
Caterham Racing	Kidzer	National & Club Racing	5	17 May 2004 09:10
[Photos/Art] Caterham Champions	Andrew Kitson	Armchair Enthusiast	2	19 Nov 2002 02:21