It has been confirmed that Caterham Sporting director Steve Nielsen will leave the team in January after two years as Sporting Director. He is understood to be moving to a different team.
Nielsen was part of the group alongside Mike Gascoyne and Bob Bell at the Renault team in the early 2000s and was there through the Alonso years right up to the move to the black and gold of Lotus Renault GP in 2011, when he moved on to Caterham. But his career goes back further to stints at Team Lotus, Tyrrell and Arrows, under Tom Walkinshaw.
Nielsen is the second F1 management figure to quit his team this week after Williams lost its Chief Operations Engineer Mark Gillan, after just one year in the role. In his case, the team has indicated that he is not planning to move to another team, but is going to devote time to his family.
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1. Posted By: Tim
Date: December 20th, 2012 @ 2:08 pm
James,
Any word on who his replacement (if any), will be?
Tim
[Reply]
2. Posted By: Jeff
Date: December 20th, 2012 @ 5:08 pm
Any idea where he’s going James? Back to lotus maybe?
[Reply]
James Allen Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Yes, or Mercedes maybe?
[Reply]
F1 Badger Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 1:20 am
Why Mercedes?
[Reply]
James Allen Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:43 am
Connections. Could be other teams, though. We’ll find out
3. Posted By: Erik
Date: December 21st, 2012 @ 3:08 am
James, is Caterham ok? For me personally this team had great promise 3 years ago but seem to have stood still since, they just managed to beat Marussia by the skin of their teeth this season.
[Reply]
Leen Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:37 pm
I dont agree with your statement that Caterham just beat Marrusia by the skin of their teeth. Yes it was in the last race and the season did not bring what they expected, however except for the US GP Caterham was much stronger than Marrusia. The fact that Marrusia took 12th place in Singapore was the same kind of luck as Caterham took 11th in Brazil.
Caterham will be ok for next season, they just moved in to a new large facility which has potential. They have just assigned a new team priciple. Maybe they are looking for a replacement for Steve Nielsen, we will soon find out.
[Reply]
Erik Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:58 am
Yeah fair point about Marusia, but surely Mike Gascoyne (who has now unceremoniously left the F1 operation, suprise surprise) had bigger plans than fighting them still 3 years down the track.
Let’s hope they move up a level next year. Would be good to see.
[Reply]
AH Jordan Reply:
December 31st, 2012 at 10:56 am
When did Mike Gasgoyne step down?
4. Posted By: michael brathwaite
Date: December 21st, 2012 @ 6:56 pm
this guy has worked for some loser teams. wow! james what is the true value/influence of someone who works almost his whole life on middle of the pack teams (exception Renault)
[Reply]
Leen Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Michael, Have some more respect for the smaller teams please.
[Reply]
5. Posted By: Formule 1
Date: February 6th, 2013 @ 9:57 am
He was the most value in the team.
[Reply]