Penske buys F1. -. Stroll and Wolff buy Ferrari

[airshifter]

https://www.grandprix247.com/2020/04/01/penske-buys-formula-1-stroll-and-wolff-buy-ferrari/

Who saw this coming?



Hint:


Not me!

[Nitrodaze]

I suspected Liberty Media might bail out of F1 as they carry the biggest brunt of the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial situation must be worst than we think for the teams. If Ferrari is feeling the pinch enough to sell majority shares, the smaller teams are probably in deeper waters with their finances.

If this publication is true; as it sounds quite fancifull, there is going to be am almighty shuffle of teams and drivers as a consequenses. For a start, the Mercedes team as we know it might cease to be as it would be a serious conflict of interest for Toto Wolff who owns 40% share of the Mercedes team also now owning at least 25% of the Ferrari team.

While there has been rumours of Toto going to Ferrari, l could not see how that would be possible, considerinbg his investment in Mercedes. But this news certainly posit a scenario where this is possible. But it still presents a difficulty of what Wolff would do with his 40% shares in Mercedes. There is also the question of whether Mercedes would continue with the team with Wolffs departure.

If Mercedes were to decide to remain in the formula, who is the likely candidate to replace Wolff? I think Gerhard Berger may return to the business or Mercedes may pinch Zak Brown or even Seidl.

If Mercedes were to choose to sell the team which l think is as hot a property as Ferrari, who would buy it? If Mclaren can muster up the finances, l would think they would buy it, as l think it would be. the cheapest way to buy into the leading technological knowhow of modern f1. The quickest way to the front of the grid, l think. Then there is the question of what would they do with the current team, which they could run as a B-team and sell of at some point in the future. But would they buy Mercedes? Can they afford to run two teams?

The most interesting side effect of this is the driver shuffle that may occur as a consequence of this. Just like the Wolff-Ferrari rumours, we have had some Hamilton-Ferrari rumours. With Wolff in the Ferrari camp, l can see Hamilton in red overalls alongside Leclerc and Vettel in Mercedes overalls. Bottas is therefore at risk of being replaced without the protection of Wolff. The vacant Mercedes seat would invite stiff competition for the drive. With Verstapenn lockdown contractually, Ricciado, Sainz and Russell are the immediate contestants for that seat. Outside chances may include Gasly and Ocon.

With Liberty Media out of the picture, the biggest question mark is whether the new regulations of 2022 would still hold? My gut feeling is that it may be overhauled and may take a different direction. It all depends on the personality of the new owner Roger Penske.

We still have an American ownership of F1 but with an important difference. Penske is an experienced racing businessman. He is about pure and fast racing entertainment. But American style. F1 which has iots roots in Europe and have essentially a European culture would most likely be a new experience for Penske. In a sense, he is of the same mold as Ecclestone. An American Ecclestone if you like.

The manner of Penske's introduction into ownership; that relationship to Stroll and Wollf would certainly ensure the protection of Ferrari in future royalty discussions.

But l think the highly contentious new regulation may turn out to be dead in the water with a highly revised version of it possibly proposed when everything has settled back into some level of normality. This may also result in a further delayed start date for the new regulations due the revision of it.

The formula is possibly in jeapardy until the current or the new owner of F1 resolves the financial consequences of the delayed start to the 2020 season. The highly likely risk of a cancellation of the entire 2020 season would suggest that there might not be a full grids in 2021. And possibly a full calendar as well, as some teams and venue management may not survive their 2020 losses.

Ofcourse it is April Fools day so pigs would fly :-)

[airshifter]

Od course it is April Fools day so pigs would fly :-)

Well that won't stop us from speculating that Seb would be tossed to the curb to make room for Lance to race with Charles.

Or will Lance race with Lewis, and Seb and Charles go to Merc?

Alonso back to Ferrari, where he is dominated and humiliated by Lance?

[roygreen]

When F1 starts up again there is going to be some very noticeable changes I think