Open Wheel Racing 2021, anyone there to watch?

[MichVandal]

I'm going to have to dig up some Ferrari stuff being a fan- https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...2025/10571247/

So apparently that article was about rumors, but it's really official. Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025. Crazy. Well, expected for a long time, shocking at this point.

[Russell Jaslow]

But it's THE iconic team of F1. And it's not as if the disfunction can't be dealt with- Schumacher did.

Schumacher had Todt and Brawn to help out.

Once the Italians took the team back, it was downhill again.

[Kepler]

[MichVandal]

Schumacher had Todt and Brawn to help out.

Once the Italians took the team back, it was downhill again.

Then we will get some entertaining radio calls. And more people telling the world that the winningest driver in F1 is a whiner.

[solovsfett]

I don't understand how this is a net financial gain for F1, and that means I don't understand how it happened because it is an article of faith that C.R.E.A.M.

Is it that rarest of cases, where bullheaded xenophobia triumphed over Capitalism? If so... actually, I'm ok with that. It's stupid, but at least it's human.

The Andretti name is royalty in open wheel circles, be it F1 of INDYCAR. And side note, If Mario had focused his efforts on F1 and abandoned INDYCAR altogether I think he would have gotten 2-4 titles and that’s when he was in his late 30’s iirc.

Andretti/Cadillac would be a financial gain because like in nascar you’d have Ford vs. GM as a plot point for American fans and a team owner who would bring at least one American driver into the fold (Colton Herta, I’m in no way sold on Logan Sargent)…not to mention Andretti’s history in F1. For all of the **** he got for 1993 and not living in Europe, Senna spoke very highly of Michael and Mika Hakkinen who was behind Andretti at a McLaren at the time also said Michael was a great racer, it was outside the cockpit issues that derailed that season and it was way out of Andretti’s control.

anyway, I think Andretti would be a huge gain for F1.

[Kepler]

Given then that it makes no sense financially, how did it happen? Toto isn't in it for charity.

[MichVandal]

Given then that it makes no sense financially, how did it happen? Toto isn't in it for charity.

They don't believe that Andretti can deliver the goods. Just like I don't (IMHO, Mike has really diluted the value of the name by how he's recently run Andretti Racing) . But it also appears that they don't believe anyone can deliver the goods.

I also think F1 is looking at GM much like how Ford did it 20 years ago, which was a disaster. All in all, there's hardly a realistic difference between Renault, Fiat (aka Ferrari), and GM. But if GM looks at F1 like some kind of technical cake walk that just needs more managers (like Ford did), yea. Renault is *really* close to that- given they have not even come close to challenging for the top. Also, looking back at Ford's recent history- will GM bail as fast as Ford did when the going or economy gets tough?

Horner benefitted by billions because of Ford, but who knows if they can repeat that or not.

[Kepler]

I thought Ford was a very successful team and that was great for F1?

[solovsfett]

I thought Ford was a very successful team and that was great for F1?

Ford won a title with Schumacher but their overall history in F1 is fair to middling.

[MichVandal]

I thought Ford was a very successful team and that was great for F1?

Ford gave Cosworth money to put their name on the engine. And it was the most successful engine of all F1 history.

But when Ford bought Stewart (who was slowly making progress getting good), and then called them Jaguar, it was a complete disaster. There are a lot of stories out there describing it. It as pretty much the style it was managed that killed it- which was quite literally "the Ford way". Total mess, and it was well illustrated by the fact that Jag lost a massively expensive diamond that was put on the nose of one of the cars (to commemorate a Bond thing, IIRC) for the Monaco race. Of course, the car crashed, and the diamond was never found.

Red Bull bought the remnants.

[Spartanforlife4]

Horner is under investigation by Red Bull for actions towards a fellow employee. At least for now he plans to stay working during the investigation.

[solovsfett]

Horner’s situation appears to have worked itself out at least as far as RBR is concerned. Ford has some grievances (morality clause?) so we’ll see what comes next.

Documentary on Dan Wheldon will be out on HBO in 2 weeks: https://youtu.be/M7NBpYwQXMw?si=EEzD8aRH0HsCLKbx

looks good! And finally something on INDYCAR that people can actually watch on a mainstream platform.

speaking of, new chassis and engines for 2027. Penske is finally understanding what needs to be done to get that series back into the general sports fans conscious

[MichVandal]

Horner’s situation appears to have worked itself out at least as far as RBR is concerned. Ford has some grievances (morality clause?) so we’ll see what comes next.

Documentary on Dan Wheldon will be out on HBO in 2 weeks: https://youtu.be/M7NBpYwQXMw?si=EEzD8aRH0HsCLKbx

looks good! And finally something on INDYCAR that people can actually watch on a mainstream platform.

speaking of, new chassis and engines for 2027. Penske is finally understanding what needs to be done to get that series back into the general sports fans conscious

Some are pointing out the lack of transparency in the investigation. But I’ll let it sort itself out, even as I dislike Horner.

[MichVandal]

Btw, solo, did you see the questionable news from Audi, making the Andretti snub look much worse?

[solovsfett]

Btw, solo, did you see the questionable news from Audi, making the Andretti snub look much worse?

Yeah, it’s kind of crazy. Is Audi actually going to move for complete control of Sauber? Just last week there were rumors that due to a key officer leaving they might pull back. It must be a fun time to be a motor sports journalist!

re: Horner….i hope there wasn’t a payoff to make the situation go away…although I suppose if that were the case Ford would be squawking.

man…Hamilton a half second better than Verstappen…is REd Bull sandbagging?