As Caterham prepares in Abu Dhabi for its F1 return this weekend, a round of intriguing speculation is taking place. With Kamui Kobayashi already confirmed to drive, potential teammates for the Japanese are queuing up.
The latest, according to the major German daily Bild, is retired F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello, who apparently recently found enough sponsorship to contest the Austin, Interlagos and Abu Dhabi races as his "great farewell performance". Behind the driver rumours, however, there is a bubbling unease about Caterham's high-profile return.
Many believe the crowdfunding scheme brought F1's lofty image into disrepute. For example, while other teams boast multinationals that pay millions in exchange for a logo, one on-car sponsor of the revived Caterham team in Abu Dhabi will be a small UK pub called the Windmill Inn. Not only that, the team - whilst racing in Abu Dhabi - is actually being run by an insolvency administrator, who has laid off the entire 230-strong workforce.
"There seems to be no discussion about it," former senior aerodynamicist Jim McManus is quoted by the Witney Gazette. "It seems we have been really railroaded through. I don't think the employees are being consulted at all." There are also concerns not only with a lack of spare car parts for the Abu Dhabi race weekend, but also Caterham's ability to build a car for the 2015 season. (GMM)
Barrichello in the frame for Caterham seat in Abu Dhabi
- Published on 19 Nov 2014 13:59
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Replies (1)
Login to replyPosts: 204
No one should expect much from the Caterham "team" on this last go-round. It could be a real accomplishment for them just to finish the race with one car, much less two. As for the administrators, there does appear to be some hanky-panky going on through their firm. Oh, and while we are cussing Bernie Eccelstone (as we should), it was nice of him to shoulder the expense of flying the Caterham cars and crew to Adu Dhabi, to compete.