Marussia buyout - Speculation Thread

[KeiKo403]

Title says it all really....thought I'd start this thread as speculation so the main Marussia Team thread can be kept to factual information about the team.

So a few thoughts so far.....
1. Ferrari B Team
2. McLaren/Honda B Team
3. Qatar can't have a GP so maybe have a GP Team?

I think if Ferrari engines aren't kept then that only leaves Renault and maybe Honda. If it isn't a McLaren B team then I think the Honda supply is exclusive? Mercedes already supply the max amount of teams since taking on Lotus from losing McLaren.

I think Haas has already declared himself out.

Anyone got any whacky ideas...LDM/Whitmarsh/Briatore/Dominicalli buyout?

[Manoah2u]

Audi 2015

No, no clue at all. It's been suggested many times HAAS is involved, but that has ZERO reasoning.
Again, Haas doesn't need to buy the debt-holding Marussia outfit to contract Ex-Marussia team members,
so why would he?

The only thing I could think of that would be interesting in buying the 2014 cars for would be the rule on not allowing
testing with 'recent' cars. 3 years, wasnt' it? That means having a 2014 car to your disposal for testing would be in your
benefit for what, 2017? 2018?.

Apart from that, there have been news articles on 'companies' that are intending to construct 2014+ spec F1 cars without the intention of running an F1 team, with the goal of providing testing and the neccesarily mileage and surroundings to gain a superlicense thanks to the revised superlicense rules. They'd make it a lot easier for themselves to actually buy a 2014 car.

Then again, i don't see why they then wouldn't buy them from the auction.

[Manoah2u]

there you go, isn't haas as expected.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11501228766 ... g-marussia

Ecclestone hopeful but Haas not rescuing Marussia

The new 2016 team Haas has denied rumours it is the mystery investor looking into rescuing Marussia.

American Gene Haas, also the owner of a Nascar team, has acquired the ailing backmarker's Banbury factory and some of its assets ahead of its own grand prix debut next season.

But with reports in the past days suggesting Marussia is also close to being rescued ahead of the 2015 season, rumours hinted it might also be Haas, who could get up and running this year with the outfit's old car.

Sky, however, quoted Haas as insisting it has "no interest in purchasing Marussia or any other team".

Bernie Ecclestone also quashed the Haas buyout talks, the British broadcaster added.

But the F1 supremo did sound optimistic about Marussia's chances of surviving, revealing: "I had a meeting with someone this morning that said they want to, and think they can buy Marussia, so that would be good.

"Caterham, I don't think there is much chance of saving them, but Marussia there is a chance," Ecclestone added.

so bye bye caterham.

[kptaylor]

Okay, silly rumors?

How about Andretti Racing buying in. Mario & Michael couldn't stand to see Haas beat them to F1 in the US so they'll swoop in and get Manor, beating Haas to the punch!

How about Peter Windsor v 2.0?

[mkable1370]

Title says it all really....thought I'd start this thread as speculation so the main Marussia Team thread can be kept to factual information about the team.

So a few thoughts so far.....
1. Ferrari B Team
2. McLaren/Honda B Team
3. Qatar can't have a GP so maybe have a GP Team?

I think if Ferrari engines aren't kept then that only leaves Renault and maybe Honda. If it isn't a McLaren B team then I think the Honda supply is exclusive? Mercedes already supply the max amount of teams since taking on Lotus from losing McLaren.

I think Haas has already declared himself out.

Anyone got any whacky ideas...LDM/Whitmarsh/Briatore/Dominicalli buyout?

So... what leads you the conclusion that Haas has declared himself out? It seems plausible to me that any serious potential buyer might consider buying the team assets outright rather than trying to pickup remaining assets at the (postponed) auction. By doing so he could avoiding a potential bidding war at auction and could avoid the potential loss of assets to other interested parties who might turn-up at the auction. Just curious since I'm not following this story day by day like some apparently are.

Thanks.

[Manoah2u]

do you even take the actual effort to read what has been posted in this thread?

[Tim.Wright]

Consider that he would also be buying a contractual obligation to show up with 4 cars in total in 2016...

[f1316]

I said it in the Marussia team thread already, but my wish (no reason to think it'll happen) is that Ferrari buy Marussia and brand it either Alfa Romeo or Maserati - both championship winning F1 teams and both with road cars that are more likely to feature a V6 than a Ferrari.

They could then use this to have twice as many cars for testing, more votes, more places for driver academy guys etc.

[marcush.]

Audi 2015

No, no clue at all. It's been suggested many times HAAS is involved, but that has ZERO reasoning.
Again, Haas doesn't need to buy the debt-holding Marussia outfit to contract Ex-Marussia team members,
so why would he?

The only thing I could think of that would be interesting in buying the 2014 cars for would be the rule on not allowing
testing with 'recent' cars. 3 years, wasnt' it? That means having a 2014 car to your disposal for testing would be in your
benefit for what, 2017? 2018?.

Apart from that, there have been news articles on 'companies' that are intending to construct 2014+ spec F1 cars without the intention of running an F1 team, with the goal of providing testing and the neccesarily mileage and surroundings to gain a superlicense thanks to the revised superlicense rules. They'd make it a lot easier for themselves to actually buy a 2014 car.

Then again, i don't see why they then wouldn't buy them from the auction.

Marrussias assets are not just the people -it is a potentially fully operational f1 outfit with all the expertise ,cars ,designs for a 2015 car laid out for a Ferrari PU...I would call this a brilliant shortcut if you really intent to go racing asap with Ferrari Running gear.
You want to do this on a lean budget? It will not come any cheaper than this....you will inevitablly make a lot of expensive mistakes going into your first second and third season.. not if you buy into marussia who looked very much on their way to brake clear from being a backmarker .But is Haas serious about it ..still i have my doubts.

But my guess :As we have seen Kolles last year dragging Caterham forward my feeling is he may be the one who could turn around Marussia ..mind you Kolles is on good terms with Bernie has his respect....and i believe he has the backers as well.

[Manoah2u]

Marrussias assets are not just the people -it is a potentially fully operational f1 outfit with all the expertise ,cars ,designs for a 2015 car laid out for a Ferrari PU...I would call this a brilliant shortcut if you really intent to go racing asap with Ferrari Running gear.
You want to do this on a lean budget? It will not come any cheaper than this....you will inevitablly make a lot of expensive mistakes going into your first second and third season.. not if you buy into marussia who looked very much on their way to brake clear from being a backmarker .But is Haas serious about it ..still i have my doubts.

But my guess :As we have seen Kolles last year dragging Caterham forward my feeling is he may be the one who could turn around Marussia ..mind you Kolles is on good terms with Bernie has his respect....and i believe he has the backers as well.

You get the same expertise by just hiring the Marussia staff after all assets have been sold atleast. Again, surely their contracts are broken open because of going into administration, and Marussia staff is eager to work in F1 again.
So you get the same experience, same knowledge, same minds without the big debts Marussia houses.
Additionally, Haas has bought the 2015 Marussia car designs and intellectual rights to the 2015 car. Somebody else may have that 'prototype' scalemodel, Haas has the blueprints, plans, and rights the the actual car. Again, no need for buying defunct Marussia.

Like literally stated above, (do people actually read more then 2 threads in a topic?)
it can't get cheaper then NOT dealing with Marussias huge debt. Thats MILLIONS of €€/$$ cheaper. Same people, same materials, without the debt.

And to top it all; it's IN the link provided that Haas himself DENIED he's buying the Marussia team. Denied. By Haas. And additionally, Bernie denies it, too.

It was illogical to assume Haas would ever aquire a debt-loaded Marussia Team, it will be illogical, and it always will be illogical, apart from the fact it was merely an unfounded unrealistic rumour that has powerfully been blown to pieces by Haas himself.

Enough thought excersizes posted aswell that Haas then would have 2 teams for 2016 to house. It's so illogical it's mindblowing to even seriously concider this happening.

IF marussia actually gets a buyout - which Bernie seems to have high hopes for, it can just about be anyone, but it definately WILL NOT be Haas.

[Facts Only]

There seems to be a lot of people who think that the Marussia staff have been packed away in boxes along with their suits and wheel guns!
Anyone working contract or consultant would have jumped the second an invoice wasn't paid. The full-timers would have been looking for work as soon as the administrators took charge. Both groups would have had the feelers out for work as soon as rumours started about the team going under (this would have happened internally long before it was on the internet)
Either way anyone worth their salt will be employed elsewhere by now.

[turbof1]

I can't say I have worked in a small racing team, but I do can say I have had contact with one particular guy. You have to understand this: Yes, these people need to make a living and will eventually have to move on. With a very heavy heart. But that being said, a smaller team like Marussia is more a family then a team. They back this family, even close to being fully disbanded, all the way through. I personally believe that they'll come back to the team, even if that means quitting their jobs at an other team, if by any means contractual possible.

[langwadt]

Audi 2015

No, no clue at all. It's been suggested many times HAAS is involved, but that has ZERO reasoning.
Again, Haas doesn't need to buy the debt-holding Marussia outfit to contract Ex-Marussia team members,
so why would he?

The only thing I could think of that would be interesting in buying the 2014 cars for would be the rule on not allowing
testing with 'recent' cars. 3 years, wasnt' it? That means having a 2014 car to your disposal for testing would be in your
benefit for what, 2017? 2018?.

Apart from that, there have been news articles on 'companies' that are intending to construct 2014+ spec F1 cars without the intention of running an F1 team, with the goal of providing testing and the neccesarily mileage and surroundings to gain a superlicense thanks to the revised superlicense rules. They'd make it a lot easier for themselves to actually buy a 2014 car.

Then again, i don't see why they then wouldn't buy them from the auction.

the test ban only applies to F1 teams (obvoiusly) if you could buy a 2014 car and steal some tires (the teams don't get to keep them) you could test as much as you like

[Facts Only]

I can't say I have worked in a small racing team, but I do can say I have had contact with one particular guy. You have to understand this: Yes, these people need to make a living and will eventually have to move on. With a very heavy heart. But that being said, a smaller team like Marussia is more a family then a team. They back this family, even close to being fully disbanded, all the way through. I personally believe that they'll come back to the team, even if that means quitting their jobs at an other team, if by any means contractual possible.

F1 by its very nature (short term, seasonal, volatile and specialist) lends itself to contract/self employed/consultant work and the industry is pretty heavy with contractors. These guys are (to put it bluntly but not insultingly) mercenaries, who follow the work and the money.
I suspect a lot of these guys may have had there fingers burnt and will now be 'creditors' of the old team so will rather stay where the money is paid on time.
Also employment for design engineers in the UK is seriously short on labour so people can pick and choose and I bet many will have got a pay rise when they left Marussia.
Its known around the industry that the guys at Marussia did a good job with what they had which stands them in good stead for re-employment.
Lastly If Marussia are resurrected it will be in a new factory that could be miles away from Banbury and also possibly/probably run by an existing race team.

For these reasons I doubt many ex-Marussia employees would return, mainly because I suspect (and hope) many are better off now.

[KeiKo403]

But doesn't Marussia going forward still be entitled to prize money. Isn't there a rule about finishing in the top x positions for 2 years in a row to be entitled to prize money/showing up money? I seem to remember that last year or the one before that I wiould've been advantagous for Caterham/Marussia to switch positions and split some $50m each? I can't remember the specifics but hopefully someone will.

Could a situation like that be a good selling point?

I must say I doubt a Ferrari B team unless it's somewhere for their young engineers to hone their skills (or make the mistakes to learn from). Ferrari can's get their A team right (in all fairness)