Monday, 3 November 2014

Small teams set to receive base payment which will allow them to survive on a workable budget

GP_USA_Texas_14_048.JPG
(Sauber F1 Team)

Formula One's smaller teams Lotus, Sahara Force India and the Sauber F1 team look set to receive a base payment that according Lotus F1 Team Chairman Gerard Lopez will allow the teams to operate on a workable budget. 

In the run up to the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas the Caterham and Marussia F1 Team's entered into administration.

Lopez said:

'I really think there is a way to solve this in the coming days, probably even to get to a proposal before Brazil, in which case I don't see the point in doing anything drastic that would damage the sport.'

Lopez feels that it is better to describe the smaller teams as racers versus constructors rather then small teams as the likes of his Lotus team employ up to 300 people. However it not just the teams that suffer when they have financial issues.

The Marussia and Caterham F1 Team's suppliers also struggle as their contracts are not fulfilled and this can cause knock on financial issues,

Lopez has stated that an agreement could be in place with Bernie Ecclestone in build up to this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

'Once you start dividing it by the number of teams, it suddenly does not become that massive. There is a way to build a proposal in the next couple of days.'

It is unclear if the Caterham F1 Team will be on the grid next season however the opposite can be sad for the Marussia F1 Team who it has been revealed could potentially be back on the Formula One grid for the season finale in Abu Dhabi with Max Chilton and Alexander Rossi for the final race of the season.

It has been reported that the team have officially lodged an entry for the 2015 Formula One season. It had also been reported over the United States Grand Prix weekend that Sauber, Force India and Lotus would boycott the United States race but this report was denied by all parties.

It is unlikely that such a threat exists as it would just be detrimental to the teams in the long run and would not achieve anything. It would also appear to be unnecessary if this new agreement between Mr Ecclestone and the teams goes ahead.

© Ben Johnston 2014

No comments:

Post a Comment