Crowd-Funded Caterham Will Race In Abu Dhabi

And, probably, get a $40-million payday because of it.

The struggling Formula 1 squad went into administration and had padlocks on their doors. But a CrowdCube idea set forth the idea that if the Caterham F1 team (Kamui Kobayashi's car is pictured, thanks Caterham F1 Team) made a certain amount (2.35-million pounds), they could race in the last race of the 2014 season despite being in administration. That placement would put them top-ten in the standings for owners points and give them a mid-eight figure payday for their survival.

Much to the chagrin of F1 major domo Bernie Ecclestone- who thought the idea was a crock in the first place.

This coming from the guy who thinks social media isn't for his racing series, anyway...

“We set ourselves a major challenge, but it’s definitely been worth it! In only a week the fans have made the impossible, possible," Finbarr O’Connell of Smith & Williamson, joint administrator of Caterham Sports Limited. "We knew that the best way to keep this team alive and attract possible buyers was to show that it’s still a racing team and be in Abu Dhabi for the finale, and there aren’t enough words to say how grateful we are to all the fans that have made this possible.

“We now head to Abu Dhabi ready to show what a hard-working and positive group of people this is and to hopefully secure a future for the team. During the past few days the interest of many potential buyers has increased massively and by racing in Abu Dhabi the team will be showcasing itself as a live and functioning team that deserves to continue into 2015 and beyond. It has hard-working people, team spirit and experience and now it only needs a secure financial future which I’m very hopeful we can achieve. Once again, I’d like to reiterate that we are racing in Abu Dhabi thanks to all the fans out there – an achievement that will go down in F1 history and one that we can all be very proud of. We still need to raise a bit more cash so please do keep an eye on the Crowdcube website. Let’s go racing!”

Here was Craig Slater outside Caterham HQ just a few weeks ago when things were pretty bleak...
((HT: Sky Sports))


No idea on who will drive the car (or cars) for the team since Marcus Ericsson quit. Kobayashi has driven the other car, but his future was in doubt as well.

Caterham Can Skip US Grand Prix To Find New Owners (UPDATE: Marussia Skips As Well)

((HT: FIA/Sky Sports))

Let's face it...

The situation at Caterham's F1 team is a mess-and-a-half...

The old owner says the new owners are responsible for paying the bills. The new owners are saying the old owner never turned over the keys to the kingdom. As a result, Formula One Major Domo Bernie Ecclestone has given permission for the team to miss the next two races while they get their finances straightened out.

it's so bad right now that administrator Finbarr O'Connell closed the team's doors and no one and nothing is allowed in or out to tinker with anything.

Chief Executive Graham McDonald discusses the current mood


Part of a statement from FIA read:

"In a telephone conversation today between Finbarr O'Connell and Bernie Ecclestone, Mr Ecclestone agreed to support the administrators in their wish to sell the Formula One team to a party with the financial strength to sustain it into the future.

"Mr Ecclestone also agreed to give dispensation to Caterham F1 such that it could, if necessary, miss the US and Brazilian Grands Prix, but hoped that a new owner would be in a position to race the team at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix."

Ecclestone has said in the past that FIA would be okay with ten squads. But the new owners who thought they were the new owners and have gone back and forth with the Tony Fernandes ("old") group in a war of words saying one group is responsible to pay bills and not themselves.

The lack of a Caterham side opens the door for both Sauber and Marussia to make more owners points in-roads and put Caterham in a deeper financial hole for the beginning of the 20125 racing season.

Especially, if no new owners are found by Abu Dhabi...

UPDATE: Looks like the Marussia squad is done with the US and Brazil GP's as well. The crash involving Juiles Bianchi in Japan has ricked the team to its core. At the last race in Russia- a race the home-owned squad wanted to have a stellar showing- they only ran one car in deference to Bianchi. The group hasn't seemed to be emotionally in the game and their financial issues are leaning them to regrouping for 2015 as well.

FIA rules say that you can sit out three races without violating the racing charter- looks Marussia might do that by choice and Caterham not so much so...

DEVELOPING: F1's Bianchi Undergoes Surgery After Suzuka Crash

((HT: Sky Sports/F1))

This doesn't look good, but we could also say the same thing about racing in a super-typhoon.

Marussia driver Jules Bianchi is in critical condition after crashing during the Japanese Grand Prix

Here's the look we can give you until F1 pulls it...


Bianchi was dianosed with a serious head injury and underwent emergency surgery. It appears that while Adrian Sutil's car was being hoisted onto a crane for track removal, Bianchi experienced an apparent hydroplane in the same spot in Turn 7.

Sutil was asked about what he saw: "I aquaplaned. The rain got more and more. One lap later with waved yellow flags, Jules came around and had the same spin there and that was it. It was the same crash but the outcome was different. The car came out to rescue my car and it all happened."

And F1 released a statement themselves:

"On lap 42, Adrian Sutil lost control of his car, spun and hit the tire barrier on the outside of Turn 7. The marshals displayed double waved yellow flags before the corner to warn the drivers of the incident. A recovery vehicle was dispatched in order to lift the car and take it to a place of safety behind the guardrail. While this was being done, the driver of car 17, Jules Bianchi, lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor."

More when we know more...

Formula 1 Race In Hungary Almost Had History And Another Argument

((HT: F1/NBCSN))

It was "almost" a historic Hungarian Grand Prix for Lewis Hamilton.

Having to start on the pit lane because of disastrous qualifying (and an on-board fire), he almost became the first driver to go from pits to top step. Hamilton finished third, but the larger issue is again between Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosburg. Hamilton was given a suggestion to have Rosburg pass, but Hamilton wasn't going to slow down to make it happen. Rosburg was too far behind to use his in-car "push-to-pass," so Hamilton kept racing his normal race.

Hamilton finished third and Rosburg fourth- the end result being the lead for Rosburg for the title is now down to 11 points at the season mid-break.

Oh, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo won and Fernando Alonso was second


Post race, Hamilton defended his stance- as well he should have...
((HT: SkySports))


Now, to the rest of the run...

Sauber was 1 for 2, but their highest finish was 11th- just out of points. Marussia finished 15th and 16th- good for finishing, but bad for points-gathering.

It was disastrous for Force India as both Perez and Hulkenberg

(pictured right, thanks Sahara Force India Formula One Team) didn't finish the race. Hulkenberg qualified 9th and Perez 13th. They're now only one point ahead of McLaren in the team competition in 5th.

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal & Managing Director, waxed on a missed chance afterwards:

“It is disappointing to come away from this weekend with nothing, especially as the race was shaping up nicely for us. Both Checo and Nico were on course for a points finish, but it was not our day. Sometimes, this is how motorsport is. But a negative result must not detract from our great first half of the year because this is the first race in 2014 in which we have not scored points. Despite the missed opportunity, we remain in fifth place in the championship. It was also a fantastic race for Formula One with wheel-to-wheel racing and a great show for the fans. We have the summer break now, an occasion to regroup and come back stronger in Belgium and get ready for the final eight races.”

Caterham and Sauber are still pointless in the season and the day was a long one for Caterham. Both Kobayashi and Ericsson didn't finish the race.

Kobayashi: “It’s obviously a shame we couldn’t finish the race today but an issue with the fuel system meant I had to stop the car as I had no power.

“My start was pretty good – I stayed on the outside to avoid any issues going into turn one and I had good traction out of the first corner, helping me pass a couple of cars and straight away I could push. The car felt good in the wet / dry conditions, they seem to suit us, and my pace in the first stint was pretty strong. We boxed for the first time on lap nine and rejoined on softs and again I had good pace, enough to push me up to 14th.

“I had a big moment with Maldonado when he span after making contact with Bianchi. That’s the third race in a row I’ve had a very near miss and this time I saw him hit the Marussia and then start spinning – I managed to turn in just enough to avoid him hitting me, but there must have only been millimetres in it!

“After that I was into a good rhythm and the balance was fine. We were going to run quite long on that set but then on lap 24 I lost power just after turn 12 and that was the end of my race.”

Marcus Ericsson: “It was quite a good race up until the point where I crashed on lap seven. My start was ok and I was having a good fight with Chilton and Maldonado, trying to line them up through turn three and I was just a bit too eager in the throttle. The back stepped out and I couldn't catch the car and that was it, I was in the wall.

“It was a pretty big shunt! I went to the medical centre straight after the crash and they told me it was about 20g, but physically I feel fine. I’m sorry for the guys on track and back at Leafield though – they put in 100% all the time and it’s obviously not a good feeling for them to see one of their cars in the wall, but we’ll come back fighting in Spa where we have some new parts and we’ll keep pushing, there and for the whole second half of the season.”

Next up for F1 is Belgium in a little less than a month...

OSG Formula One: Life On The Edge

((HT: NBCSN/F1))

For the remainder of the Formula One racing season, we're going to talk about very fast cars that travel the globe. There are a couple of different angles to pay attention to- the top...

Nico Rosberg won on home soil holding off Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton- who had to start 20th because of an brake failure in qualifying.

Here's the highlights...


Rosberg's points lead is now 14 heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix- the official half-way point of the season on the calendar.

And the bottom:

The other part of the dynamic is the team championship. Marussia, Sauber, and Caterham are fighting it out for 9th, 10th, and 11th. If Marussia holds their space, it could be worth $50-million extra dollars. There are three columns that are the breakdown for payouts in the sport. The percentage pile (last year, it was $350-million) meant that 10th was worth four-percent and 11th got nothing.

The previous year's performance column would help Marussia since they placed top 10 last year and could net them up to $35-million extra. That's what makes Sauber and Caterham's pace pick up just a bit.

Joe Saward's blog breaks it down as to how all the financing works.

So, Caterham had its two drivers finish 16th with Kamui Kobayashi:

"16th was about as much as we could have done today – we didn’t quite have the performance to catch Bianchi so now it’s on to Hungary next week for the last race before the August break.”

And 18th with Marcus Ericsson:

“I started from the pitlane so it was always going to be a struggle today. Obviously the safety car on lap one helped but I had to serve the ten second stop / go we’d incurred for breaking parc fermé rules last night after the issue with the power unit straight after the safety car came in, and from that point I was having to try and play catch up for the whole race."

Sauber had the chance to grab a point but Adrian Sutil had to retire and Esteban Gutierrez only finished 14th:

“The whole team did a good job over the weekend. From Friday on we developed the car as best we could. However, 14th position is not satisfying. I was fighting the entire race from the beginning to the end, trying to gain positions and keeping cars behind me. At the moment we are missing the pace to be able to fight with the others in front of us. There was not much that we could do. We need to keep working and focusing on our performance so we can be more competitive in the next races."

Ricciardo Wins First F1 Race In Montreal After Last-Lap Crash

((HT: NBCSN/F1))

The beginning was interesting as teammates tried to box each other out to get to the front (Rosberg and Hamilton), the loss of one of them to mechanical problems (Hamilton)- and the loss of a lot of drivers to mechanical problems, and what was almost a podium finish for a team that was looking for it...

Wasn't... and it was a first top podium finish for an Aussie...


The two Marussia drivers, Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi, were supposed to be called in for review after the race to determine if there's any further punishment for them. But, looking at the crash, Chilton just looks to have lost the back end- nothing intentional done...

Next up... Austria...

And the new question is how Rosberg avoided a penalty for driving through a chicane- he received a "final warning" instead of any kind of penalty.

Here's the section of the rules in question:

Article 16.1 f) of the Sporting Regulations states that a driver may be penalised if he 'illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre by a driver', while the all-encompassing clause 20.2 declares: 'Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not. Should a car leave the track the driver may rejoin, however, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage.'

Ecclestone Stepping Aside At Formula 1, Not Stepping Down

But the HQ thinks it's amazing what being brought up on bribery charges by Munich's state court will do for you...

The major domo of F1 for the last four decades is linked to an alleged $44-million payment to a German banker. Ecclestone maintains his innocence, but has stepped down from the board of the holding company that runs the sport. He will still be in charge of the day-to-day operations...

From Delta Topco Limited: 'After discussion with the Board, Mr Ecclestone has proposed and the Board has agreed that until the case has been concluded, he will step down as a director with immediate effect, thereby relinquishing his board duties and responsibilities until the case has been resolved.

'It is in the best interests of both the F1 business and the sport that Mr Ecclestone should continue to run the business on a day to day basis, but subject to increased monitoring and control by the Board. Mr Ecclestone has agreed to these arrangements.'

The whole German suit comes from what Ecclestone calls a "shakedown" from German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky over an alleged undervaluation of Formula 1 back in 2006. Gribkowsky is currently serving an eight-and-a-half-year jail sentence for accepting the payment from Ecclestone...

Here's an interview with Ecclestone discussing the fixing of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix by Flavio Briatore and Renault to let you know just how shady F1 comes across on the whole...
((HT: DW English))

Schumacher Still Critical After Skiing Accident

((HT: sntv))

Grand Prix driver Michael Schumacher is still listed in critical condition after the accident that occurred on a skiing vacation with his son. Schumi fell and suffered an impact to the right-hand side of his head after he and his group decided to tackle an unmarked run.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet and was conscious immediately after the accident, but his condition deteriorated- arriving at the hospital in a coma.

He then underwent surgery and the surgeons said that they discovered blood clots on his brain. They were removed but lesions were also discovered.

Here's the early report from France...


Doctors on sight maintain that the next few days are crucial in determining the extent of the damage since it usually takes a few days for the swelling in the brain to top off and recede. He is being kept in a drug-induced coma to properly watch over him...

More when we know more...

Will Buxton Channels Beasties

((HT: Awful Announcing))

Most American television viewers, short of the insomniac or Formula 1 junkie, may have no real clue as to who pit reporter Will Buxton actually is...

But this may vault his public Q score a bit...


Here's the real version...
((HT: EMI Music))


Our only beef with Buxton is that he took all three parts...
The HQ envisioned David Hobbs and Bob Varsha as MCA and Mike D with Buxton as Ad-Roc...

So Much For That Whole Teammates Thing in F1...

((HT: SkySports/F1))

Formula One Racing is known for its politicking, racers who drive in teams and tandem- and are forced to deal with office politics more than the average bear when it comes to getting the job done...

Happened again in the Malaysian Grand Prix today half a world away...

It looked like Team Red Bull was going to finish one-two with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, but according to Vettel, no one told him that he was going to finish second. He passed Webber and finished first...

Much to the anger of everyone on both teams...

Here's the apologetic Vettel...


Here's an angry Webber...


"I made a big mistake today and we should have stayed in the position. I messed up in that situation and took the lead from Mark and can see now he is upset. Apologies to Mark. The result is there and all I can say is that I didn't do it deliberately."

Strangely enough the same thing happened to decide third and fourth with Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton was third and the team told Nico Rosburg not to pass- he didn't...

Thus guaranteeing Hamilton's first podium with his new teammates...

F1 Race In Austin Filled The Seats, Used The Rulebook To The Letter...

((HT: KXAN-TV Austin))

There was a certain amount of gamesmanship- like every other race in Formula One- that included the intentional breaking of an engine seal to make sure that Fernando Alonso started from the preferred groove...

Which he praised his teammates for...

Ya'see...

Alonso is second in the points race behind Sebastian Vettel and the intentional move by his Ferrari teammates pushed Felipe Massa back (he was 7th in points going in). And over the last 20 laps or so, Lewis Hamilton set up Vettel for a pass and would get the win at a track he really liked out of the box...

Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali wasn't apologizing...
((HT: SkySports))


Dude reminds the HQ of Bill Belichick...

Here's the local news coverage after the race where almost 275,000 people showed up over the weekend...

Austin F1 now one for record books

Edmonton Indy Is Toast For Now... Will It Stay Or Will It Go...??? Austin, Are You Listening...???

((HT: NBCSN/youtube))

The Edmonton Indy Car race is done until further notice after the current promoter, Octane, pulled out and the city says they won't find a replacement- and they'll eat the costs they fronted to make the race happen in the first place.

The last Indy, probably, left a sour taste in the mouth of everyone in Alberta province as relayed by the Edmonton Sun's Terry Jones:

"Colin Livingston pointed out, on the record, all the warning signs to your correspondent a week before the race in July.

"Livingston, owner of CanTorque, a business based in Edmonton, said what he was seeing bothered him greatly.

“There has been a great neglect in the marketing, promotion of the race is even worse than Northlands,” he said. “This year, specifically, it looks like they are trying to run the race for free. There appears to be next to no budget for promotion or marketing of this thing. They just operate the race. And they do a great job running the race. But my concern is there’s not going to be a race left here to operate.”

The big beef being that an outfit in eastern Canada was in no shape to run something in the west... and everyone in town seems to be right... There didn't seem to be any promotion, any signage, any advertising, or anything else that would make a race (a very popular race at that...) available to the city.

Jones seems to think Michael Andretti could step in like he did in Baltimore or Kevin Savoree who ran the Toronto Indy.

The HQ thinks that another city might have a stake in the future of that time slot... if they look at it hard enough... Austin, Texas and the Circuit of the Americas...

It would give the city another reason to claim a motorsports foothold in a series that is more North American than the overt corruption that seems to permeate the F1. And the HQ shudders at the thought of just how much money has gone F1's way to get a race to a college football town on a college football weekend the weekend before Thanksgiving. It reminds us of the IOC...

Who said that...???

The US Grand Prix will, no doubt, look pretty. Texans will make sure of it. But they really need to look to book the building for other clients and not just Bernie Ecclestone.

It just lends to too many questions in the long term instead of too many solutions to pay for the track...

Here's the last race from Edmonton- for now... until it ends up some place else...

DEVELOPING: De Villota Crashes During F1 Testing (UPDATED)

F1 driver Maria de Villota crashed during a straight line test run at a British airfield this morning and is being treated for, what were initially called. "life-threatening injuries."

Her car hit the team support truck at the end of her first run at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire. It was the first time she tested the MR-01 car.

Here's an eyewitness account of the incident...
((HT: BBC/youtube))


And the most recent statement from the Marussia team:

"The team can confirm Maria was transferred by ambulance from Duxford Airfield, where the accident happened, to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

"Since Maria's arrival at the hospital at approximately 10.45hrs this morning, she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital, which is the region's major trauma centre.

"Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing. The team will await the outcome of these assessments before providing further comment.

"The team's first priority at this time is Maria and her family."

An early theory behind the accident, according to Sky Sports, is that the anti-stall mechanism on the car kicked in, sending the car into the truck.

De Villota, apparently, regained consciousness and was talking prior to her transfer to hospital.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: De Villota has lost her right eye due to the injuries and remains in a critical but stable condition after having lengthy surgery "to address serious head and facial injuries sustained in the accident. The operation began yesterday afternoon and she was in theatre until this morning," Marussia confirmed in a statement.

Spanish Grand Prix Marred By Williams Pit Fire

((HT: SkySports))

This was not the way that the Williams team wanted to celebrate their win at the Spanish Grand Prix today.

Pastor Maldonado won the race today, but in post-race activities (what early reports are saying was a photo shoot) it seems a fuel line may have leaked in the paddock causing a flash fire.

Here's some of SkySports coverage...


16 people were taken to hospital for further medical attention- four serious in their diagnoses...

BBC Sports was live during the breakout...


More when we know more...

Bahrain Crown Prince Calls F1 Race "Force For Good"

((HT: Channel 4 Scotland))

The Formula One race in Bahrain this weekend has been one of those on-again, off-again events. F1 Chief Bernie Ecclestone left it up to each race team as to whether or not they would travel to compete- which they all have.

But one team, Force India, declined to make the second practice. Another team, Sauber, saw what SkySports wrote as "witnessed disturbances on their return to their hotel from the circuit on Thursday night." Now, there is talk of the race being postponed again.

"We are a real country with real issues and we hope you see us with all our complexities and all our shades," the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said when interviewed in the race paddock. "I genuinely believe that this race is a force for good. It unites many people from many different religious backgrounds and sects."

Channel 4's Cathy Newman caught up with the country's Information Affairs Authority spokesman about the new chapter of the uproar...


Here's the interview with the Crown Prince in its entirety
((HT: SkySports/youtube))


Just so you know: Bahrain's royal family owns 40-percent of the McLaren team, look to entertain 100,000 spectators, and bring in half a billion dollars in spending by those folks.

Protestors are proclaiming that the weekend will bring in "days of rage."