I'm sadder about Marussia than Caterham. They actually seemed to have some positive momentum earlier in the season. They still look pretty likely to beat Sauber this year. Hopefully if they do it give them enough of a boost to survive and come back next year. Is there a single team without the backing of a major manufacture (or drinks company) that is financially stable. I've even heard rumours as far up as Force India. Its a mess and it probably won't improve whilst Bernie's alive.
Yes, I agree, Marussia seemed to have made a step and they appear to have a great team spirit which I don't see from Caterham anymore. Bernie really is milking the sport dry.
Vettel sitting out quali and starting from the Pitlane are we actually going to have enough cars to run qualy at all?
Agreed. Though i feel equally sorry for the workers of both sides, as far as teams go, i reckon Marussia bring more to the sport than Caterham and are more likeable as an outfit. Marussia as pointed out also have made significant steps forward this year, to be fair, Caterham have too, they probably are further away from the front, Which is more to do with Mercedes just nailing the new regs. but if you look at how far they are away from the midfield, both are significantly closer on pure pace to the tail end of that pack (currently Lotus and Sauber) than they have ever been.
It's only just clicked with me that we're going to have a a car deficit in America again. Bernie really is good at cutting off his nose to spite his face isn't he?
That's us already 5 cars down for qualy and i'm going to take a wild guess that a few others very tight on parts (Lotus-Maldonado, Toro Rosso-Kvyat, Sauber- Sutil, Both Ferrari's) are going to follow suit here knowing for certain there are less cars there so less penalty. Nobody is going to want to take a penalty for Abu DoubleDhabi given what is at stake if they have a good race, another reason double points is stupid. This and Brazil qualy have the potential to be a total farce with pretty much just the Merc powered cars properly competing (all have plenty components available up to now), everybody else is so short of parts it makes little sense them putting on more mileage before the last race.
If several people decide to start from the pits, how is the order in the pitlane decided? First come, first served, or is there some ordering?
It's technically up to the stewards, but it's usually done by whoever gets their paperwork to the stewards the fastest
What a farce this is becoming. If one more opts to start from the pitlane (or if someone has an accident in FP3 or something) what will they do about Q1? Surely they can't change the qualifying format, so everyone will just have to go out, set a middle sector time and then sit in the pits for 18 minutes until Q2 starts.
Ah yes. Hamilton's now wearing Mercedes colours, Vettel will be wearing Ferrari's, Alonso will be in McLaren overalls next year while Whitmarsh is sporting a rather fetching concrete overcoat at the bottom of the River Wey.
He's been melted down and turned in to sticky pads to remove dirt from visitors shoes back at the factory.
Sky Sports F1 ‏@SkySportsF1 1m1 minute ago Marussia confirmed as entering administration and also to miss this weekend's U.S. GP #skyf1 What the....
Bitter sweet... Bitter at having to lose another team.. Sweet in not having to see Chilton, ham it up at the back of the field!
2 teams collapsing, others struggling to pay the bills also... and what does the sport do? Nadda! Marvelous.
According to amus, Force India might not make the grid due to Mercedes withholding engines for not being paid.