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- Hammerhead Garage
This discussion is inherently related to this one, but given some of the reactions I've seen to recent developments across the internet - including F1 Fanatic and the Autosport forums - the popular opinionis that while there's thirteen and a half teams slated for entry in 2010 (Sauber's entry depeds on the current teams agreeing to it), not all of them are going to line up on the grid in 2010. So I'm going to try and preset the case for and against each of the teams arriving in Bahrain for the first round of the 2010 championship.
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Brawn Grand Prix
For: With each passing day, it's becoming increasingly likely that the winner of the 2009 championships will be Brawn. Their success has been unrivalled, and they are said to have netted new sponsors in addition to talk of Mercedes buying them out.
Against: Budget, budget, budget. After their Sliverstone upgrade failed, the team supposedly ate into the money they had set aside for 2010 to fix the problem. The influx of new sponsors should bring more money, but will it be enough?
Red Bull Racing
For: Finally breaking their duck in China this year, and doing it faster than Toyota did. They've got a talented designer in Adrian Newey and have cracked the secrets of the RB5, even if their championship challenges are fading fast.
Against: Scuderia Toro Rosso may be an anchor that drags them down, but the main threat to their position - te budget cap controversy - has abated, so there's not much of a case for them leaving.
Ferrari
For: They're Ferrari.
Against: Are you mad? They're Ferrari!
McLaren-Mercedes
For: Like Ferrari, McLaren are a big name. They're almost certain to line up in 2010.
Against: If the rumours are true, Mercedes are looking to end their involvement with McLaren and make Brawn their works team. They deny the first half, but it could put a strain on resources.
Toyota Racing
For: The team are finally beginning to find their feet. They've shown flashes of inspiration - like in Bahrain - and have to follow through sooner ot later, even if it's completely by accident.
Against: Like most fans, Toyota have no idea why they're in the sport. The axe has been hanging over the project for years, and there are increasing rumours that they'll withdraw. But then it might just be a ruse to light a fire under their belly.
Williams
For: When Williams rebelled against FOTA and submitted an unconditional entry to the FIA, they did it for one reason, an one reason alone - they are a racing team, first, last and always. They exist purely for Formula One.
Against: They are really struggling with sponsors. They lost Hanley's at the end of last year, and RBS is leaving as well. If they can't find a new sponsor, their number may be up.
Renault
For: When Renault build a bad car, they have the uncanny habit of being able to come good by season's end. Renault bosses released Flavio Biatore and Pat Symonds from their duties and are not denying race-fixing allegations, so they evidently want to compete and feel honesty is the best course of action.
Against: Ignoring for the moment the fact that they may not be allowed to compete, Renault are in a similar situation to Williams, with the departure of a major sponsor. Even if they are exonerated at the WMC meeting, the stigma may prompt potential sponsors to look elsewhere.
Force India
For: They're finally doing what new teams have been threatening to do for years and come good on their potential and expectations. The car is arguably the fastest on the grid at the moment, and a maiden win is not out of the question this season.
Against: Rumours persist that Vijay Mallya is in a bad shape financially. He is said to owe both Ferrai and Mercedes a lot of money for engine deals, while Kingfisher and Whyte & Mackay are said to be in finacnial peril.
Scuderia Toro Rosso
For: Red Bull like to keep them around to give new drivers a bit of experience before setting them up for a racing drive. It's the only thing keeping the alive right now.
Against: Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz is said to be throwing less and less money at the team and was even going to sell them for 2010 before the war with the FIA. Once the loophole that allows Red Bull and Toro Rosso to run the same chassis is closed, the team may not even be able to build its own car. Otherwise, they're a glorified GP2 team, unable to compete with the other teams because Red Bull wills it. Buemi and Alguersuari deserve better.
Campos Meta1
For: They're a highly successful GP2 team, with a chassis being built by Dallara. Pedro de la Rosa and Vitaly Petrov are tipped as drivers; the latter of whom could bring serious sponsorship money from Russia and the former Soviet bloc.
Against: They've already complained about the budget cap being abolished; they seem to have been banking on it, and so they may be under-funded come 2010.
Manor Grand Prix
For: The Virgin deal is said to have been inked, and the team may even be re-styled as Virgin F1. While Simtek was a disaster, Nick Wirth is a competent designer; from memory, the Acura LMP was a pretty strong car.
Against: They've been quiet. Very quiet. Their reception has been lukewarm, with a lot of people beleiving Max Mosley granted them an entry over Prodrive and Lola to gain control over the rules via a technical veto (but no evidence has been produced). They're also making the step up from F3 to Formula One, which is a very big step indeed.
Team USF1
For: The project has been in the works for years, and eter Windsor and Ken Anderson have said they would applied to join in 2010 even if the FIA didn't open up grid slots. They also have YouTube founder Chad Hurley as a backer.
Aganst: If Bernie Ecclestone is to be believed, they've got nothing. No car, no facilities, no staff and no chance.
Lotus 1Malaysia
For: They come with considerable backing from the Malaysian government and are armed with Mike Gascoyne as technica director.
Against: They're an eleventh-hour entry, with no indication of where their chassis might come from. Lotus are taking the line of getting a Malaysian into the sport, but neither Alex Yoong nor Fairuz Fauzy are cut out for it, and a lot of fans are disgruntled over the fact that they're resurrecting the Lotus name.
Untitled BMW Sauber Team
For: The team was saved by investment group QADBAK, who have ties across Europe and in the Middle East.
Against: No-one seems to know who QADBAK are, though Peter Sauber says he trusts them. If thirteen teams can make it to Bahrain, Sauber's 2010 entry is entirely dependent upon the ten current teams agreeing to opening up a fourteenth grid slot.
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Personally, I don't think Toro Rosso will make it. If they don't get purchased by another team like Epsilon Euskadi, they may just be left to fade away.
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Brawn Grand Prix
For: With each passing day, it's becoming increasingly likely that the winner of the 2009 championships will be Brawn. Their success has been unrivalled, and they are said to have netted new sponsors in addition to talk of Mercedes buying them out.
Against: Budget, budget, budget. After their Sliverstone upgrade failed, the team supposedly ate into the money they had set aside for 2010 to fix the problem. The influx of new sponsors should bring more money, but will it be enough?
Red Bull Racing
For: Finally breaking their duck in China this year, and doing it faster than Toyota did. They've got a talented designer in Adrian Newey and have cracked the secrets of the RB5, even if their championship challenges are fading fast.
Against: Scuderia Toro Rosso may be an anchor that drags them down, but the main threat to their position - te budget cap controversy - has abated, so there's not much of a case for them leaving.
Ferrari
For: They're Ferrari.
Against: Are you mad? They're Ferrari!
McLaren-Mercedes
For: Like Ferrari, McLaren are a big name. They're almost certain to line up in 2010.
Against: If the rumours are true, Mercedes are looking to end their involvement with McLaren and make Brawn their works team. They deny the first half, but it could put a strain on resources.
Toyota Racing
For: The team are finally beginning to find their feet. They've shown flashes of inspiration - like in Bahrain - and have to follow through sooner ot later, even if it's completely by accident.
Against: Like most fans, Toyota have no idea why they're in the sport. The axe has been hanging over the project for years, and there are increasing rumours that they'll withdraw. But then it might just be a ruse to light a fire under their belly.
Williams
For: When Williams rebelled against FOTA and submitted an unconditional entry to the FIA, they did it for one reason, an one reason alone - they are a racing team, first, last and always. They exist purely for Formula One.
Against: They are really struggling with sponsors. They lost Hanley's at the end of last year, and RBS is leaving as well. If they can't find a new sponsor, their number may be up.
Renault
For: When Renault build a bad car, they have the uncanny habit of being able to come good by season's end. Renault bosses released Flavio Biatore and Pat Symonds from their duties and are not denying race-fixing allegations, so they evidently want to compete and feel honesty is the best course of action.
Against: Ignoring for the moment the fact that they may not be allowed to compete, Renault are in a similar situation to Williams, with the departure of a major sponsor. Even if they are exonerated at the WMC meeting, the stigma may prompt potential sponsors to look elsewhere.
Force India
For: They're finally doing what new teams have been threatening to do for years and come good on their potential and expectations. The car is arguably the fastest on the grid at the moment, and a maiden win is not out of the question this season.
Against: Rumours persist that Vijay Mallya is in a bad shape financially. He is said to owe both Ferrai and Mercedes a lot of money for engine deals, while Kingfisher and Whyte & Mackay are said to be in finacnial peril.
Scuderia Toro Rosso
For: Red Bull like to keep them around to give new drivers a bit of experience before setting them up for a racing drive. It's the only thing keeping the alive right now.
Against: Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz is said to be throwing less and less money at the team and was even going to sell them for 2010 before the war with the FIA. Once the loophole that allows Red Bull and Toro Rosso to run the same chassis is closed, the team may not even be able to build its own car. Otherwise, they're a glorified GP2 team, unable to compete with the other teams because Red Bull wills it. Buemi and Alguersuari deserve better.
Campos Meta1
For: They're a highly successful GP2 team, with a chassis being built by Dallara. Pedro de la Rosa and Vitaly Petrov are tipped as drivers; the latter of whom could bring serious sponsorship money from Russia and the former Soviet bloc.
Against: They've already complained about the budget cap being abolished; they seem to have been banking on it, and so they may be under-funded come 2010.
Manor Grand Prix
For: The Virgin deal is said to have been inked, and the team may even be re-styled as Virgin F1. While Simtek was a disaster, Nick Wirth is a competent designer; from memory, the Acura LMP was a pretty strong car.
Against: They've been quiet. Very quiet. Their reception has been lukewarm, with a lot of people beleiving Max Mosley granted them an entry over Prodrive and Lola to gain control over the rules via a technical veto (but no evidence has been produced). They're also making the step up from F3 to Formula One, which is a very big step indeed.
Team USF1
For: The project has been in the works for years, and eter Windsor and Ken Anderson have said they would applied to join in 2010 even if the FIA didn't open up grid slots. They also have YouTube founder Chad Hurley as a backer.
Aganst: If Bernie Ecclestone is to be believed, they've got nothing. No car, no facilities, no staff and no chance.
Lotus 1Malaysia
For: They come with considerable backing from the Malaysian government and are armed with Mike Gascoyne as technica director.
Against: They're an eleventh-hour entry, with no indication of where their chassis might come from. Lotus are taking the line of getting a Malaysian into the sport, but neither Alex Yoong nor Fairuz Fauzy are cut out for it, and a lot of fans are disgruntled over the fact that they're resurrecting the Lotus name.
Untitled BMW Sauber Team
For: The team was saved by investment group QADBAK, who have ties across Europe and in the Middle East.
Against: No-one seems to know who QADBAK are, though Peter Sauber says he trusts them. If thirteen teams can make it to Bahrain, Sauber's 2010 entry is entirely dependent upon the ten current teams agreeing to opening up a fourteenth grid slot.
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Personally, I don't think Toro Rosso will make it. If they don't get purchased by another team like Epsilon Euskadi, they may just be left to fade away.
