Comments on: Stefan GP breathing down Campos’ neck

By: Rich C

Rich C — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:49:50 +0000

AFter all that rigamarole and fuss about carefully vetting all the teams that wanted into F1 this shoot-from-the-hip deal with Stefan is just silly.
WTF is Bernie smoking??

By: FaithHealer1

FaithHealer1 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:29:08 +0000

I think Stefan GP actually seems a little sinister. They’re essentially hoping that one of the other teams goes bust. And they seem to be heaping pressure on them and intimidating them. Doesn’t seem particularly endearing to me. I personally think that the FIA’s actually done a fairly good job. In the ‘good old days’, F1 tended to have a few smaller teams lapping a few seconds slower than the others. It doesn’t damage F1′s credibility, another couple of hundred people have jobs, people get to see a race with a few more cars. F1 needs this sort of diversity, from the all-out tension of the front runners to the rising stars of the midfield to the charming minnows trying to finish the race. In my opinion, of course.

By: The Limit

The Limit — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:49:16 +0000

What amazes me about this whole business it that here we are, mere weeks from the beginning of the season, and Campos may not even have a car for the opening race. It baffles me why they were allowed into the 2010 F1 championship by the FIA, if their financial base was so weak! Surely the FIA had to have looked into the economic viability of teams such as Campos before excepting their entry into the championship?
If Stefan Gp have the cash behind them, and the techinical nouse, then they should be allowed as entrants in the place of Adrian Campo’s team.
Personally, I think that is exactly what is going to happen. Toyota, although not involved as a team anymore, will remain in F1 as an engine supplier to Stefan Gp, with Stefan Gp using the 2010 Toyota chassis as Brawn Gp did last year with the Honda chassis.
Atleast, that is what I am hoping will happen.

By: Paprika

Paprika — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:51:57 +0000

I’d like that too, but I think that it’s not an option. Toyota and Bernie have already pretty much chosen Kazuki Nakajima and Ralf Schumacher as StefanGP drivers if they’re to race at all.

By: Gino Ginelli

Gino Ginelli — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:10:09 +0000

cool, looking forward to seeing their test in portugal, even if it is going to be just Nakajima going around on his own.

how about a forumla one division 2 in 2011 for more of these aspiring hopefuls?

By: ViperF1

ViperF1 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:31:49 +0000

Think you’l find it was 107% qualifying time from the pole sitter Stavros, But yeah with the number of teams now on the grid it seems a logical solution.

I really dont know what the crack is with this stefan G.P, or the FIA for that matter, or even campos. But if you ask me the smart money would be to grant Stefan G.P their grand prix entry as they seem quite seriuos about going racing, and i would severely reprimand Campos Meta and revoke their entry.

But this is the FIA we are talking about and we all know that common sense doesnt always prevail, until its too late and they think “well why didnt we do that then”?
KICK CAMPOS OUT AND LET STEFAN G.P RACE!!!

By: Phil C

Phil C — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:16:42 +0000

Nakajima is a Toyota man – that’s why he drove the Toyota powered Williams. My understanding is that he came as part of the package for Stefan GP to buy Toyota’s designs.

Interesting aside to this – as I have heard elsewhere – If they don’t make the 2010 grid, their cars will be free to test whenever they like. If a team decides to replace a driver mid-season, can you see them asking to borrow a car and some track time, to get them up to speed in an F1 car? Could be a nice earner!

By: Phil C

Phil C — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:10:05 +0000

It pretty much killed the parent company off too for a few years

As I remember it, Mastercard wanted to launch an F1 Club, which would bring money in to which they would then supply the team. Therefore they pushed Lola to be ready to early… The car wasn’t even symetrical from what I recall! Then after failing to qualify (about 7 seconds off the pace I think) the club didn’t take off and Mastercard pulled the plug.

The first worrying sign should have been signing Ricardo Rosset as lead driver!

I really hope if Campos don’t make the grid, Stefan GP buy Senna’s contract

By: The Kitchen Cynic

The Kitchen Cynic — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:49:38 +0000

I wonder if there’s an old Prost nosecone or two in that container…?

By: Jason C

Jason C — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:35:48 +0000

Seems an odd move as SGP has Toyota’s chassis… would it be purely a blocking move?