The Caterham Thread

[Waris]

Good to see Caterham in the post season test. Not only this, but look at the Stevens times. Impressive work.

I hope Caterham survives and keeps him.

I was quite surprised when I saw him that high up, but then noticed that his time (01:44.888) was only a bit better than his qualifying time on Saturday (01:45.095), so I think it's more a case of
everyone else was just slower. Here's hoping it will still persuade the would-be investors though ...

Me too was surprised. O'Connell said that someone "who is linked in to Formula 1is interested. Somebody who actually knows it, and who wants to do it. If it's serious and it goes ahead then we'll announce things as soon as we can."

I read that too, and I thought... what if it's Flavio Briatore? Is he still banned from working in F1?

[Captain Hammer]

What if it's Eddie Jordan? Or Paul Stoddard? Or HWNSNBM?

Or ... all three of them!?

[tommykl]

What if it's Eddie Jordan? Or Paul Stoddard? Or HWNSNBM?

Or ... all three of them!?

I would pay actual money to see that happen. And see all three of them fight to be the "voice of the team"

[watka]

What if it's Eddie Jordan? Or Paul Stoddard? Or HWNSNBM?

Or ... all three of them!?

I would pay actual money to see that happen. And see all three of them fight to be the "voice of the team"

Unfortunately we all know that HWNSNBM could obliterate Paul Stoddart and Eddie Jordan with a single word.

[Henrique]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/319812/caterham-allowed-to-use-2014-car-next-season/

You know how they'll be next season.

[Bobby Doorknobs]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/319812/caterham-allowed-to-use-2014-car-next-season/

You know how they'll be next season.

So that will be the first time since 2008 that a team will use the exact same car from last year(say what you will about HRT's cars). Anything for the survival of a reject team!

[Backmarker]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/319812/caterham-allowed-to-use-2014-car-next-season/

You know how they'll be next season.

So that will be the first time since 2008 that a team will use the exact same car from last year(say what you will about HRT's cars). Anything for the survival of a reject team!

If the new owner did restart work on the 2015 chassis, would they be able to use that once it was ready, or are teams limited to one chassis per season these days?

[dr-baker]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/319812/caterham-allowed-to-use-2014-car-next-season/

You know how they'll be next season.

So that will be the first time since 2008 that a team will use the exact same car from last year(say what you will about HRT's cars). Anything for the survival of a reject team!

If the new owner did restart work on the 2015 chassis, would they be able to use that once it was ready, or are teams limited to one chassis per season these days?

I don't know for sure, but I assume that so long as you can get the chassis through the crash tests, you can use a new chassis during the season. After all, teams sometimes bring new noses during the season that have needed to go through fresh crash tests.

[LionZoo]

Is using the previous year's car not allowed if the rules stay the same? There were a string of years during Ferrari's dominant period that they would use the previous cars for the first few races of the year.

[Backmarker]

Is using the previous year's car not allowed if the rules stay the same? There were a string of years during Ferrari's dominant period that they would use the previous cars for the first few races of the year.

And when the MP4-18 had cooling problems (thanks Adrian!) McLaren had to re-jig the MP4-17, back in 2003.

[mario]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/319812/caterham-allowed-to-use-2014-car-next-season/

You know how they'll be next season.

So that will be the first time since 2008 that a team will use the exact same car from last year(say what you will about HRT's cars). Anything for the survival of a reject team!

If the new owner did restart work on the 2015 chassis, would they be able to use that once it was ready, or are teams limited to one chassis per season these days?

The FIA's current homologation rules mean that, once the season begins, teams are effectively locked into the same design for the survival cell, which effectively fixes the design of the chassis. There are limited means by which a new chassis can be homologated, but it requires a special dispensation from the FIA and usually has to be made on safety grounds (e.g. there is a latent defect with the original design that can only be rectified with a new design).

dr-baker, there are certain limitations on the changes that can be made to certain crash structures once the season begins - for example, Caterham's new nose this season still used the same front crash structure, just with a different aerodynamic faring over the top. Mercedes also brought in a more subtly modified nose this season too, although they might have also homologated certain parts of the front crash structure prior to bringing that new nose in too.

[dr-baker]

dr-baker, there are certain limitations on the changes that can be made to certain crash structures once the season begins - for example, Caterham's new nose this season still used the same front crash structure, just with a different aerodynamic faring over the top. Mercedes also brought in a more subtly modified nose this season too, although they might have also homologated certain parts of the front crash structure prior to bringing that new nose in too.

Thanks Mario. A fount of knowledge as always!

[Bobby Doorknobs]

No bathplugging way.

[Ataxia]

No bathplugging way.

a) Ignore it, it's Christian Sylt. He talks utter crap.
b) Selling a team for that money is quite common. To make it a legitimate sale, it can either be handled with a regular fee or with a nominal fee which is always a small amount. They still have to take on the debt, and also must usually make an agreement to invest a certain amount of money. So, don't think you can start hoovering companies for 40p and a packet of sweets, because it will put you in a lot of debt.

[Sublime_FA11C]

Indeed. What is known simply as Caterham (the F1 team that races the cars) is composed of numerous other companies/entites, and one of those might have been sold for a buck and a half-eaten sandwich. But that's only one small piece and it's probably worth as much.

Then there's the issue of debt, as has been pointed out. You may buy a company that is 40 million in debt for 1 pound, but if you were to do so you'd go down 40.000.001 pounds down. If Romanian ex-footballers wants to throw away money that way, fine. The article is clickbat if i ever saw one.

[Rob Dylan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30681394
Caterham needing to find a buyer before an unnamed deadline
I'm quite impressed that the team is afloat enough that they can be organising with separate buyers at this point. In all honesty I wasn't aware Caterham were even still around. It's also suddenly sparked my interest as to who their potential two drivers would be. Vergne and Alguersuari would be pretty wizard.

Imagine a team where the drivers go into it knowing there is no actual salary being provided by the team! That'd be a first probably...correct me if I'm wrong

[Salamander]

It's also suddenly sparked my interest as to who their potential two drivers would be. Vergne and Alguersuari would be pretty wizard.

JEV is certainly not going to drive for Caterham, given as he's already said being a Ferrari reserve driver is better than driving for Caterham.

[Backmarker]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30681394
Caterham needing to find a buyer before an unnamed deadline
I'm quite impressed that the team is afloat enough that they can be organising with separate buyers at this point. In all honesty I wasn't aware Caterham were even still around. It's also suddenly sparked my interest as to who their potential two drivers would be. Vergne and Alguersuari would be pretty wizard.

Finnbar O'Connell reckons there are three potential buyers for Caterham. I'm dubious, but playing along a little:

Billionaire wanting to promote his products: Lawrence Stroll (worth $2.9 billion, mainly owns fashion brands)?
Someone in the automotive industry #1: Dave Richards (chairman of Aston Martin)?
Someone in the automotive industry #2: Franz Hilmer (boss of Formtech)?

[Captain Hammer]

I think it's a bit cynical to doubt that there are potential buyers. Doubt their ability to run the team, but I see no reason to doubt their existence in the first place.

[f1andrea]

They are all wasting their time, maybe they want to pay less as possible to acquire it or they are trying to involve some others parties..I only hope someone can save the team

[Captain Hammer]

Or maybe the delay is because everyone stops working for two weeks over Christmas.

Remember, there is the concession that will allow them to use the CT05 chassis, so there is less pressure to get physically ready.

[Waris]

Are Forza Rossa still involved, or has that gone nowhere?

[Bobby Doorknobs]

Are Forza Rossa still involved, or has that gone nowhere?

Apparently they were never involved, in spite of Kolles' involvement.

[mario]

Or maybe the delay is because everyone stops working for two weeks over Christmas.

Remember, there is the concession that will allow them to use the CT05 chassis, so there is less pressure to get physically ready.

Plus, in theory, a concession to use a 2014 spec engine from Renault at a reduced price, even though technically it is a violation of the FIA's regulations (Renault should, strictly speaking, give Caterham the same specification engine as their other customers, but unfortunately that would also come with the same price tag). Despite those concessions though, it still strikes me as a fairly big stretch for the team - with the first race on the 15th March, Caterham have to have their cars in Australia by the 12th March at the latest in order to get through scruitineering for the first race.

That effectively gives them barely over two months to reassemble their team - a number of whom, as the administrator has pointed out, would need to be replaced as they have already found jobs elsewhere - and, once they have enough people in place to actually operate the cars, then get the cars into a serviceable state and ready to be shipped out to Australia ahead of the new season. They could be in a very difficult situation if they needed something as major as a new chassis, since the lead time on producing a chassis is quite considerable (six weeks is a figure I've heard bandied about at times for producing a new chassis from scratch).

[Waris]

IIRC, they'd still be allowed to miss the first three races with no consequence, unless that rule has been changed in the meantime.

[Frogfoot9013]

IIRC, they'd still be allowed to miss the first three races with no consequence, unless that rule has been changed in the meantime.

Maybe my brain (if I actually have one) is making things up on me, but did USF1 try to use that at the start of 2010 as well?

[tBone]

IIRC, they'd still be allowed to miss the first three races with no consequence, unless that rule has been changed in the meantime.

Maybe my brain (if I actually have one) is making things up on me, but did USF1 try to use that at the start of 2010 as well?

According to a slightly unreliable source, they tried to miss the first four races.

[dr-baker]

IIRC, they'd still be allowed to miss the first three races with no consequence, unless that rule has been changed in the meantime.

Maybe my brain (if I actually have one) is making things up on me, but did USF1 try to use that at the start of 2010 as well?

According to a slightly unreliable source, they tried to miss the first four races.

Here's a slightly reliable source, confirming the fact.

[Rob Dylan]

Thinking again about the potential Caterham drivers, Roberto Merhi could be in with a decent shout of a drive next year if Kolles maintains any level of influence on the team. And that leads me to question you knowers of things, do you know if the new buyer is needed in a financial sense only, or is the intention for the current mysterious owners to pass on their ownership to someone else?

[AdrianBelmonte_]

Thinking again about the potential Caterham drivers, Roberto Merhi could be in with a decent shout of a drive next year if Kolles maintains any level of influence on the team. And that leads me to question you knowers of things, do you know if the new buyer is needed in a financial sense only, or is the intention for the current mysterious owners to pass on their ownership to someone else?

It doesn't really matter, the Caterham CT05B would be a career-killer

[UncreativeUsername37]

Thinking again about the potential Caterham drivers, Roberto Merhi could be in with a decent shout of a drive next year if Kolles maintains any level of influence on the team. And that leads me to question you knowers of things, do you know if the new buyer is needed in a financial sense only, or is the intention for the current mysterious owners to pass on their ownership to someone else?

It doesn't really matter, the Caterham CT05B would be a career-killer

Merhi would just enjoy having a career to be killed.

[Frogfoot9013]

Thinking again about the potential Caterham drivers, Roberto Merhi could be in with a decent shout of a drive next year if Kolles maintains any level of influence on the team. And that leads me to question you knowers of things, do you know if the new buyer is needed in a financial sense only, or is the intention for the current mysterious owners to pass on their ownership to someone else?

It doesn't really matter, the Caterham CT05B would be a career-killer

Merhi would just enjoy having a career to be killed.

I'd be very surprised if the CT05B makes the 107% cut once in 2015, considering the jump in performance Merc are already rumored to have made (a whole second faster, IIRC).

[UncreativeUsername37]

It doesn't really matter, the Caterham CT05B would be a career-killer

Merhi would just enjoy having a career to be killed.

I'd be very surprised if the CT05B makes the 107% cut once in 2015, considering the jump in performance Merc are already rumored to have made (a whole second faster, IIRC).

Enforcing 107%?

[Backmarker]

I'd be very surprised if the CT05B makes the 107% cut once in 2015, considering the jump in performance Merc are already rumored to have made (a whole second faster, IIRC).

Enforcing 107%?

Yeah, that rule only existed if you were HRT.

[Captain Hammer]

107% was enforced in such a way that it kept genuinely uncompetitive cars off the grid. Provided that your team-mate qualified and you had set a representative time during free practice, the stewards would let you onto the grid.

[Klon]

107% was enforced in such a way that it kept genuinely uncompetitive cars off the grid. Provided that your team-mate qualified and you had set a representative time during free practice, the stewards would let you onto the grid.

It was enforced once at the start of the year to make Ferrari shut up. This is literally the only reason this rule exists. Ferrari went crying to momma because the backmarker bullies were mean.

[dr-baker]

I'd be very surprised if the CT05B makes the 107% cut once in 2015, considering the jump in performance Merc are already rumored to have made (a whole second faster, IIRC).

Enforcing 107%?

Yeah, that rule only existed if you were HRT.

Or MasterCard Lola!

[Londoner]

Looks like the end has finally cometh for Caterham. An asset auction is taking place next month before the Australian GP, which includes the 2014 Caterham chassis. A real shame.

[RLeb]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns29900.html

[Backmarker]

I bet the Caterham CT07 would have been a Honda RA109/Toyota TF110-style rocket, had it ever been built.