Motorsport Off Topic Thread

Skyboat said:
If that is the case, why even partner up with Ford? They clearly don't have the expertise in-house to develop the whole powertrain for the new regulations.
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Ford are helping with the battery/electric motor side of it; probably replaceable if it came to it. I suspect its more of a branding exercise with Ford getting their name on the car though more than anything anyway - Ford aren't "in" F1 in the same way Honda or Audi are
 
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Be that as it may, I just want the off-track drama as it'll likely be more entertaining than any action at the front during the races this season.
 
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chrismscotland said:
PlanetF1 reporting that the investigation is "done" and we should expect an outcome before the weekend now
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If that's the case then I guess he's staying. I'd imagine he'd be let go as soon as the investigation was done if he was found "guilty", these few days are to get official statements ready etc.
 
Eddie99 said:
They won't need Renault, they took over the Honda operation (Red Bull Powertrains).
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Red Bull Powertrains are just an assembly and servicing plant - they have no development experience, and Honda owns all the IP.

Ford have a massive amount of engine and race engine development experience, including in other racing formulas. It's their resources and design department that will be dealing with the development and improvement of the Engine. Red Bull would have to undergo a massive recruiting exercise to bring Red Bull Powertrains up to the level where it can do that and, at this point, they'd have needed to have started doing that at least two years ago.

If Ford pull out, Red Bull would have no choice but to go to another manufacturer for their engines.
 
Mr Jack said:
Red Bull Powertrains are just an assembly and servicing plant - they have no development experience, and Honda owns all the IP.

Ford have a massive amount of engine and race engine development experience, including in other racing formulas. It's their resources and design department that will be dealing with the development and improvement of the Engine. Red Bull would have to undergo a massive recruiting exercise to bring Red Bull Powertrains up to the level where it can do that and, at this point, they'd have needed to have started doing that at least two years ago.

If Ford pull out, Red Bull would have no choice but to go to another manufacturer for their engines.
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Going back to Renault would be suicide so I imagine they’ll do whatever they can to keep the Ford relationship healthy.
 
bayo000 said:
If that's the case then I guess he's staying. I'd imagine he'd be let go as soon as the investigation was done if he was found "guilty", these few days are to get official statements ready etc.
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Or he's doing a business handover to whoever his replacement is before this weekend, rather than a dump and run.

It could be any number of things to be honest.
 
Mesai said:
Going back to Renault would be suicide so I imagine they’ll do whatever they can to keep the Ford relationship healthy.
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They would just got back to Honda I guess. Unless Aston Martin have an exclusive deal. I wouldn't mind red bull being forced to Renault power though, might handicap them enough to make things interesting for the neutral.
 
They could well be negotiating a compromise agreement where RB pay him to leave, which would be a good reason for someone to double down and hold out, especially in his position. It would infer some guilt, but they would likely dumb it down in the interest of the brand image and not make anyone involved unemployable in the future.

It's all a finger in the wind through, all very ominous. I'm not sure if running it so close to the season kicking off is deliberate or not. Maybe hoping any outcome will be overshadowed by the noise of first race.
 
ci_newman said:
Or he's doing a business handover to whoever his replacement is before this weekend, rather than a dump and run.
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Do you really get to do a business handover for gross misconduct?

I’m in a pessimistic mood so I’m thinking all signs point towards him staying. There will be some minor admittance of “something” he did but as stated above they’ll use the start of the season to sweep it up.

If anyone dares mention it after the race then RB will be into full aggressive victim mode.
 
Scam said:
Do you really get to do a business handover for gross misconduct?

I’m in a pessimistic mood so I’m thinking all signs point towards him staying. There will be some minor admittance of “something” he did but as stated above they’ll use the start of the season to sweep it up.

If anyone dares mention it after the race then RB will be into full aggressive victim mode.
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Normal people? No. Company CEO absolutely has an obligation to have a graceful handover.
 
ci_newman said:
Normal people? No. Company CEO absolutely has an obligation to have a graceful handover.
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Fair enough I’m obviously not a CEO so don’t know. :p But you do see statements where people at that level have been whisked away “with immediate effect”. But yeah, I just read that a statement will come out Tues/Wed when he’s back in the UK.

Definitely looks like RB are getting the brooms out and stocking up on spare carpet rolls.
 
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Scam said:
Fair enough I’m obviously not a CEO so don’t know. :p But you do see statements where people at that level have been whisked away “with immediate effect”. But yeah, I just read that a statement will come out Tues/Wed when he’s back in the UK.

Definitely looks like RB are getting the brooms out and sticking up on spare carpet rolls.
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I'd absolutely expect him to be whisked away after a statement is released - but that's likely why the statement is being delayed.

If he's going, of course :) All I'm trying to say is that the fact he's still there today isn't really an indication of anything in either direction.
 
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