Schumacher 'could start F1 team'

[ExigeEvan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4726844.stm

Michael Schumacher could launch his own Formula One team when his contract at Ferrari expires at the end of the season, according to Eddie Jordan.

The German, 37, has made it clear he would like to maintain some involvement in the sport when he decides to retire.

And Jordan, who gave Schumacher his F1 debut in 1991, believes the seven-time champion is already planning a launch.

He told The Sun: "I believe the idea of Michael starting his own team is being discussed and I can see him doing it."

Jordan believes Schumacher's reputation would make him a powerful name in the sport, adding: "Michael would open doors that other people find locked.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he encouraged Volkswagen - perhaps using their Audi brand - to come to Formula One."

Pretty interesting IMO, especially with the mention of a VAG team being raised.

However, it's very much speculation IMO.

 

[Poverty]

The funny thing is I said in another thread that audi were at the minute of toying with the idea of coming into formula one.

I think theyd build better engines than mercedes and quite possibly BMW too.


Edit:

Gonna start doing some research on the possibilities of it happening and chat to some people close to audi see what theyre saying. Id love Audi in formula one.

Please God let this turn out to be true! There is talk in the German media of Red Bull racing hooking up with Audi in 2008 as an engine supplier, Gerhard Berger a friend of both the head of Red Bull & VW Audi is also believed to be involved.

The story transpires that Audi will be out of DTM racing at the end of 2007, Opel are pulling out after 2006, and intend to use 2007 as a development year before launching an F1 program in 2008.

Speculation even extends to VW Audi producing a non-Audi "badged" engine & running it with the Torro Rosso squad too develop the unit in a racing environment, before bolting on to the back of a Adrian Newey car as early as 2007 or as late as 2009! A non-badged engine is not entirely unheard of; early 90's Yamaha units were a front for Toyota’s original aborted F1 attempt. Long term engine preparations for F1 entries are standard practice these days. BMW spent all of 1998 & 1999 developing their engine away from F1 before coming in with Williams in 2000 & Toyota's two years of solid pre-entry testing on chassis & engine started with a V12!

If Audi were to enter the post 2008 world of F1 it would make a lot sense. Firstly, by that time the official FIA series will have settled down with team commitments to the FIA or a break away series would be up & running. Thus, in the coming seasons Audi would be in a perfect position to judge where it should be entering a F1 effort.

Secondly, entering the sport with Red Bull makes sound financial sense. After all, why go down the expensive Toyota build-from-scratch route or the equally expensive top dollar buyout of an existing team (i.e. Honda/BAT or BMW/Sauber) when you can provide a block to a Adrian Newey designed flyer? Further, having rewritten Le Mans history with it's sports car program (how that must get up the noses of Mercedes & Toyota management) and having succeeded in every category it has ever competed in - rally, touring & sports prototypes - how long can Audi ignore the presence of the other two big German giants in F1?

Audi have stated publicly in the past that they would not consider F1 at its current costs. Will the temptation of running with Red Bull as an engine partner only be too good a deal to miss? Fingers crossed.

 

[X-Othermic]

Go for it, and then i can see him loose.

 

[Roo]

Call it Skoda. Please. It'd be great. If they lose, no-one will mind, 'cos it's a Skoda; if they win, everyone will be plesantly suprised.

What's happening to the DTM if Audi and Opel are leaving?

 

[Poverty]

Call it Skoda. Please. It'd be great. If they lose, no-one will mind, 'cos it's a Skoda; if they win, everyone will be plesantly suprised.

What's happening to the DTM if Audi and Opel are leaving?

Maybe BMW will then pluck up their courage to enter a car.

 

[Mr. Boy]

If he does start an F1 team, let's just hope it doesn't end up like the now defunct Prost team.

 

[Omnis]

Nice sig, Boy.

 

[Appie]

well lets see then if it works out

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

Well, other teams have gotten their start this way, or in ways very simular to this. All I can say is he better bring it, cause its already been brought!

 

[Roo]

Jackie Stewart managed it; started a team, made it a race winner and then sold it to Ford for a profit over the investment he put in. Prost bought Ligier and then ballsed it up, mainly due to the arguements with Peugeot. Schumacher could start a team and then sell it to the VAG, depending on how well he does, or just be team principal of a factory works team. Or he could just retire and enjoy his millions. Who knows?

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Well, this is nothing more or less than speculation by Eddie Jordan, who has nothing at all to base it upon. But lo! every damn news agency in the world has picked it up and run with it, and so everyone thinks Jordan is some kind of sage, when actually he's just a gobby little shyster.

Schumacher has repeatedly said that there are few things that would interest him less than running his own F1 team, and Brawn has categorically denied any involvement.

I'd be extremely surprised if anything along these lines came anywhere close to fruition.

Oh, and on a point of history Roo: Jackie Stewart used Ford money to turn his son's F3 operation into an F1 operation. He mucked about with it for a couple of years, and then sold it to Ford, which was a brilliant deal on the basis that he sold them something that they'd already paid for. I believe that Stewart Grand Prix was hobbled by the fact that about six months into the venture Paul Stewart was diagnosed with cancer and was unable to work. Paul was always meant to be the person running the show whilst Jackie schmoozed the sponsors and took all the credit. When Paul was taken ill, the whole venture started to struggle. Thankfully Paul is now well again, but Jackie continues to be the irritating little twerp he's always been.

 

[L8 Apex]

Thankfully Paul is now well again, but Jackie continues to be the irritating little twerp he's always been.

Sounds like somebody's forgotten who was the first F1 driver with the balls to step up and say that the sport could be and should be made safer. That alone makes up for any personality flaws, alleged or otherwise.

 

[sauberc11]

I still feel he will take over from Jean Todt at the end of the season. Unless the £40m one year deal red bull are offering him is true..

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Sounds like somebody's forgotten who was the first F1 driver with the balls to step up and say that the sport could be and should be made safer. That alone makes up for any personality flaws, alleged or otherwise.

Not at all. But it's interesting to note that he continually takes sole credit for that when in fact most of the credit needs to go to Bernie Ecclestone and Sid Watkins, who provided the money, the personal motivation, and the skills to actually do something about it. Yes, Jackie was the mouthy one, but he wasn't the one who actually got stuff done.

And also, that takes you up to about 1975. Which means that for 30 years he's been prancing around being an irritating little self-serving twerp. Perhaps you should look into what's happening at the British Racing Drivers' Club, and what has been happening since Stewart was President.

Or you should consider the fact that Stewart personally hooked up RBS and Williams, for an estimated $20m per year, even while Ford were deliberating whether to withdraw on grounds of cost...