I'd take Giorgio Pantano over a lot of the current drivers/drivers currently rumored. You don't become the most successful driver in F1 feeder-series history by accident and the 'what have you done for me lately' attitude, coupled with the 'he had his chance' mentality is much of what's wrong with this sport.

I'd take Giorgio Pantano over a lot of the current drivers/drivers currently rumored. You don't become the most successful driver in F1 feeder-series history by accident and the 'what have you done for me lately' attitude, coupled with the 'he had his chance' mentality is much of what's wrong with this sport.

+1

+2

Campos should be at all pre-season tests, starting in Valencia. Good news!

Will Buxton is the guy that writes for GPWeek, I think.

Not really Dallara's fault though. Campos' position is starting to look decidely shaking, very little news or even rhetoric coming from them these days, they almost seem uninterested. It's worrying if Dallara have actually stopped work on the car as this will create a delay even if money is quickly found. I suppose Dallara could look to sell to one of the new teams if/when their cars turns out to be a dogs, but there won't be any in-season testing for it to be evaluated.

All makes one wonder yet again about Max's dodgy selection process and just how flawed it was when teams such as Campos were chosen over Lola or Pro-Drive

I think the Lola guy put it aptly. They were being used as pawns against FOTA.

It's worrying if Dallara have actually stopped work on the car as this will create a delay even if money is quickly found.

I think the Lola guy put it aptly. They were being used as pawns against FOTA.

I'd say that if Campos have a problem, it's because they haven't signed a second driver yet. Both Petrov and Maldonado are said to come with over twenty millions dollars in sponsorship, money which would greatly help the team, but money which isn't flowing to where it is needed. By now the Dallara chassis should be pretty much done; it just nees the finishing touches, so I don't think it's a massive problem. If it were, Campos probably would have withdrawn by now.

I think any driver would want a garantee before he brings money to and signs a contract with Campos, remember that Bruno Senna is not a paydriver as he has stated. Perhaps Campos can not garantee potential F1 drivers for their team that they will be on the grid in 2010 ?

I'd say that if Campos have a problem, it's because they haven't signed a second driver yet. Both Petrov and Maldonado are said to come with over twenty millions dollars in sponsorship, money which would greatly help the team, but money which isn't flowing to where it is needed. By now the Dallara chassis should be pretty much done; it just nees the finishing touches, so I don't think it's a massive problem. If it were, Campos probably would have withdrawn by now.

I hope you're right, but if Campos should really only choose between Petrov and Maldonado, I don't understand why he's waiting. If both bring more than 20 million, and then complete the budget, then one is as good as the other (I don't mean the talent).

Last time we heard from Campos was on the Piquet rumours.

The thing is that Petrov has a provision for more sponsor dollars if they're needed, so if he gets into a biddng war with another driver, his sponsors are willing to pay more. I'm guessing Maldonado also has that provision.

EDIT:

A blog from Mr. Saward:

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/...-campos-meta-1/

What's he talking about? Word is out that Pedro does have sponsor money, and I wouldn't call Campos the most solid of the new teams either.

There were rumours that Pedro might have the support of 4 million of € from la Caixa, but it´s only rumours and nothing sure.

That's not enough money for Campos, that's the problem.

But we know that's is far from true.

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=354584

Apparantly Campos will be ready for the first test.

There were rumours that Pedro might have the support of 4 million of € from la Caixa, but it´s only rumours and nothing sure.

Test maybe, season apparently not.
Campos to be sold?

Even if they have the money to race, it's safe to assume that the car has been developed on an extremely tight budget.
I expect a chicane on 4 wheels.

Dieter Rencken is the co-author so it looks like credible story.

Even if they have the money to race, it's safe to assume that the car has been developed on an extremely tight budget.
I expect a chicane on 4 wheels.

A low budget does not guarantee a slow car. Honda and Toyota have already proven that pouring hundred of millions of dollars into development does not guarantee you race wins (or even regular points). If your people know what they're doing and the stars align the right way, there's no reason why you cannot succeed. Campos' budget is forty-eight million Euros; Lotus are only spending fifty-five million, while Virgin are doing it on less than forty million.

why not dump the nephew and take both Petrov and Maldonado?

Test maybe, season apparently not.
Campos to be sold?

The newcomer team Campos can still be sold partially or whole before the season start in March. From information that the paper has they are searching for potential investors. Campos is one of the 4 new teams who will enter F1 in 2010. With Bruno Senna already 1 driver seat has been filled. In the beginning of February the team will test for the first time, however the money is tight.

"It's no secret that we don't have the budget. And the time is limited", says one source close to the team. "When we find an investor, negotiate, if we can sell a part or the whole team. For that to happen the investment plan must be solid."

The paper says they are talking with multiple interested parties. One of thes the boss of A1GP, the South African bussinesman Tony Teixeira. He already has longer plans to enter F1. He was interested in Spyker and Toro Rosso before. But then he was hindered by the ban on customer chassis. At the start of 2009 he tried to take over the ex-Honda team so he could shortly make his own team.

At Campos men knows that the time is short. nonetheless the hope to have found an investor before the 14th of Januari.

Well, we should expect to see a new investor in Campos sometime soon.

Which makes sense as they are the only new team who doesn't have one.

Lotus have the support of the Malaysian government.

USF1 have backing from Chad Hurley

Virgin have Rich Branson on board.

And Campos just have themselves. No wonder they are struggling.

Well, I wasn't aware of that one, but clearly the Murcia government aren't providing very much.

Look, it's 22 days, and testing starts. The fact that the've got no funding cannot be a good sign.

Well, I wasn't aware of that one, but clearly the Murcia government aren't providing very much.