user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Money the big topic before 2014 title decider

Money the big topic before 2014 title decider

  • Published on 12 Nov 2014 09:27
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Even with F1 speeding towards its intriguing double-points title finale, money remains the big off-track topic of the moment. Although no longer trading and having laid off its workforce, Manor - formerly Marussia - is said to be in talks with investors about returning in Abu Dhabi.

It's a similar story at Caterham, where administrators have already raised more than half of the $3.7 million they need to revive the green team for the season finale, thanks to the controversial crowdfunding scheme.

The team might also have another $55,000 in the kitty if it accepts an offer from the grandfather of British female driver Alice Powell, who wants to pay for a Friday practice drive in Abu Dhabi. "I am really hoping the administrators come back with a positive response," Jim Fraser, Powell's grandfather, told the Daily Mail newspaper.

But if Marussia and Caterham do ultimately fail, talks about boosting the depleted grid with three-car teams will become louder. Currently, the F1 teams are awaiting a response from Bernie Ecclestone and F1 owner CVC's Donald Mackenzie.

It is believed they are considering releasing more funds, but who will actually receive the money is not clear. F1 supremo Ecclestone said in Brazil last weekend that the struggling small teams, including Lotus, Sauber and Force India, will not get the touted 'fighting fund'. "We give these teams enough," he said. "Not enough to survive in the way they are surviving, but enough to survive. The way forward is very easy -- don't spend as much," said Ecclestone.

Another potential solution, although initially seemingly counterintuitive, is to give more money to the bigger and more stable teams. It is said Ferrari has already agreed to run a third car next year, but Red Bull is baulking at the apparent price-tag. "It's between 35 and 40 million euros (to run a third car)," team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, claiming the Briton wants CVC to pick up the tab.

Horner is also quoted by Italy's Tuttosport: "We could not deploy the third car within our current budget, so at the moment it's not something we're thinking about."

Mercedes, meanwhile, is not at all keen on the third car idea, but team chairman Niki Lauda is quoted as saying: "The distribution of money is first and foremost a matter for CVC. We can do nothing but wait for suggestions. If CVC has a reasonable plan, we can talk about everything," said the F1 legend. "Even free engines for the (customer) teams." (GMM)
F1 News Force India Lotus F1 Ferrari Sauber Mercedes Manor Motorsport Marussia

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
195
2
Ferrari
151
3
McLaren
96
4
Mercedes
52
5
Aston Martin
40
6
Visa Cash App RB
7
7
Haas F1
5
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Force India
Force India
Show full profile
show sidebar