Aston Martin to enter F1? [!Update #1 - Yes they are!]

[Iced_Bullet]

[!Update #1]

 

[Yes they are, read here]

 

Thanks to CarMadMike aka '1 Word'.

 

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Original post:

Aston Martin Chairman David Richards has revealed that his Prodrive company is looking to enter Formula One, with a view to taking up one of three available spots open to new teams next year.

 

This is cool news for many reasons, the first of which is that we could have as many as 26 cars on the grid in 2010 - it’s always good to have loads of cars in a race!

 

And second, there’s a chance that the Prodrive outfit will enter as Aston Martin, which would be, well, bloody British.

 

 

We’re already keenly following Aston’s top-flight entry into Le Mans this year, so having them in F1 would be very exciting.

 

 

Richards has tempered our excitement a little, though, explaining that the Prodrive team might not get badged as Aston. “There are many discussions to be had in the coming weeks once the regulations have been published. We will then make a decision,” he told Autosport.

 

 

There are some in the Top Gear office who think that Aston doesn’t make sense as a brand in F1, because it makes GT cars. However, I think it would be a pretty awesome to see Aston go up against the likes of Ferrari.

 

 

Richards is assessing the situation in light of the FIA’s planned budget cap, that would see a voluntary £30 million limit placed on teams.

 

 

These teams would then be given huge freedom in technical innovation by the sport’s governing body. Think movable wings, no engine rev limit, no restriction on the number or type of updates, no homologation requirements, no limits on materials, testing, simulators, wind tunnels and so on. This freedom won’t be offered to the bigger spending teams.

 

 

The budget won’t cover driver salaries, motor homes, marketing and the like, but will cover all development work – and even ‘freebies’ from other teams will be assigned a real world cost and covered by the cap (say if McLaren let Aston use their wind tunnel for free).

 

 

This idea could take F1 back to the days where small privateer teams were actively vying for wins with the big boys, and the rumoured eight teams considering entering F1 will no doubt have been buoyed by Brawn’s recent success (although even they are operating way beyond a £30 million cap).

 

 

FIA president Max Mosley has requested that current teams submit their own capping proposals by tomorrow (Thursday), before announcing the plans next week.

 

 

If nothing else, this could lead to some interesting times in F1 next season, so let us know what you think about it all: will it add to the excitement of F1, or create a two-tier championship?

 

 

[source - TopGear.com]

[Car Freak]

IMO Aston shouldn't go into F1 - the image just isn't there. Aston Martin just don't do hardcore mid-engined cars, it's not in their heritage... If David Richards really wants to go into F1, I think going under the Prodrive banner would be better

[Immelmann]

I was going to say the same think as Mark, with their brand image it just doesn't work, and they shouldn't be there.

[TDU 505]

I was going to say the same think as Mark, with their brand image it just doesn't work, and they shouldn't be there.

Mark?

I'm Mark. He's Jon.

[Nige]

So not only are they going to show themselves up at Le Mans they might do it in F1 .... Love it :rolleyes:. Maybe they can get Lewis Hamilton to drive for them .... you know having a 'fantastic' driver and a fantastic team=success or epic failure .... the latter sounds good to me :cheeky:.

 

I say Bring on USGPE aka USF1 ...... USA, USA, USA, USA ..... "Oh, say! does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" :thumbsup:.

 

Sorry I'm in one of those moods today ..... :confused:.

[Nipper]

Dude, move to the US, seriously. It's unhealthy loving a place, that you are not at, so much.

 

Prodrive is British anyway?

Prodrive Ltd. is a motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru and Aston Martin. Its Automotive Technology division based in Warwick provides road car design and engineering consultation for various car manufacturers.

Prodrive is perhaps best known for its involvement in the World Rally Championship with the Subaru World Rally Team.

In addition to its British base, the group has activities in Thailand, China and Australia. Turnover in 2005 was £112 million.

[CarMadMike]

I'm not really sure i'd like to see aston in F1, its just not their place to be, although it would be really nice to see the gulf oil livery on an F1 car for real :drool:

[Car Freak]

Yeah, exactly. Gulf livery = cool

[t.]

I'd like to see them in it, if nothing else just to buck the trend. I don't see Renault or Toyota building many hardcore mid engine cars. Ferrari compete in GT racing and F1. The more the merrier.

[Pherelas]

Would be cool though so was jag and look where that ended up.

[CarMadMike]

Aston F1 is on!

 

 

Yes, Aston Martin will race in Formula One. Or, at least, CEO David Richards has formally applied for his Prodrive team to gain one of the three available new entry spots onto next year’s F1 grid.

 

This is good news.

 

If successful, they’re expected to run under the Prodrive banner next season and then under the Aston Martin name by 2012.

 

This is really good news.

 

Prodrive are likely to keep their technical partnership ties with McLaren – that they set-up when looking at an entry 18 months ago – in a similar capacity to what McLaren have with Force India now.

 

It’s also on the cards that the engines will be Aston-badged customer jobs, obtained from a supplier. Maybe they’ll again follow Force India’s tie-in with McLaren and get Mercedes engines?

 

Richards started looking seriously at an entry when the FIA announced plans for a budget cap, and although those plans are now likely to change, it’s not deterred Richards.

 

“The level of next year’s cost cap has risen substantially since we originally considered entering,” says Richards.

 

“However everyone appears committed to major reductions in future years and when one takes into account the transition proposals for new teams we are confident that we now have the opportunity to be both commercially viable and competitive.

 

“As we have said all along, we don’t want to be in Formula 1 just to make up the numbers.”

 

No David, you certainly don’t. Now, about those Gulf racing colours…

 

Source: http://www.Topgear.com

 

I think it would be great to see prodrive go into it, do well and then eventually become Aston Martin if everything goes to plan :)

[Iced_Bullet]

Cool, good news :D

[Mb]

Aston Martin just don't do hardcore mid-engined cars, it's not in their heritage...

BMW doesn't, Mclaren doesn't, Toyota doesn't... What is your point?:rolleyes:

[Pherelas]

Mclaren doesn't

 

Put Mclaren and the name of the sport together, what do you get? ;)

[Mb]

Mclaren F1 indeed. But i was talking about now, not the past. :)

[Pherelas]

Mclaren F1 indeed. But i was talking about now, not the past. :)

 

Isn't the new one their making one aswell?

[Car Freak]

BMW doesn't, Mclaren doesn't, Toyota doesn't... What is your point?:rolleyes:

That's why i balked when Toyota came aboard all those years ago... :rolleyes: Besides, Aston have too much of a gentlemanly image for F1