The future of Scott Speed

[zenvision]

The future of Scott Speed
grandprix.com

Red Bull has denied stories circulating in F1 circles that there may be a change at Scuderia Toro Rosso next year with Scott Speed being replaced by Robert Doornbos - but that does not mean that it is not going to happen. Scuderia Toro Rosso may have Red Bull signage all over it, but it is a joint venture between Red Bull and Gerhard Berger, as part of a larger deal that resulted in Dietrich Mateschitz buying 50% of the Berger Group, a transport company based in Radfeld near Innsbruck. This runs a large fleet of 220 trucks and also builds around 400 trailers a year. It employs 400 people and has a turnover of $120m.

Part of the deal was that Berger would run the team and that he would provide half the budget each year and it is this point that is raising questions about Doornbos as he is understood to have around $10m available from Har Muermans, a Dutch real estate developer, and Berger is interested in using that money because finding sponsorship for a team without major results is not easy - and Berger clearly does not wish to use his own money. Such a move might cause tension between Mateschitz and Berger as the Red Bull magnate has long nurtured Speed's career and wanted an American in his programme. To make matters more complicated, Speed has done a decent job in his first year in F1, despite the poor quality of machinery which has been used. Dumping the American thus makes little sense, except for Berger's budgetary requirements.

The interesting thing will be to see how the Austrians sort out this situation and whether it any long term implications on the relationship between Berger and Red Bull.

Pity if it really happens. First of all I think he has talent, and at some races he matches and beat Liuzzi, whom I rate very highly. Secondly he deserves one more year at least especially now everyone has a V8 and see where they are in terms of other drivers. Finally, I think its only good for the sport to have an american driver with such a character.

[ginsu]

I think the funniest thing I've heard about Scott Speed recently is a quote
from F1 Racing Magazine:

Last night, I had a boner this big.

That guy is such a moron, I can't believe they let him talk.

[Tom]

He seems to think he's Tom Cruise in 'Days of Thunder' and he can be arrogant because he'll always win. Wake up Scotty boy.

[m3_lover]

If you listen to him in the interviews he sounds really cocky.... I hope he gets the can

[j4kwan]

he's not cocky...he's just californian

[bhall]

Every driver on the grid is arrogant, cocky, bullish or whatever else you want to call it. You cannot be a top-level driver without that trait. It's just that some drivers show it more than others, or they show it in different ways. But I certainly don't think anyone can logically disparage Scott Speed for being that way.

F1 needs an American presence in some form. In fact, I think it needs more than just Scott Speed. The FIA should've accepted Roger Penske's application to fill the 12th spot on the grid rather than choosing Prodrive, as an American team would open up a huge market that I think F1 is rather stupid to mostly ignore.

[DaveKillens]

It's not that Speed is unworthy of being in Formula One, he performed respectably considering the circumstances. I can think of other drivers who made bigger fools of themselves during the season. But I sense a dichotomy on what's happening to STR. Red Bull's money is behind the effort, but the partnership with Berger is diluting their marketing effort towards the USA. Red Bull has broken into the US market, something difficult for a company from Austria, considering the political climate. And keeping Scott Speed involved is part of their US marketing effort, something that conflicts with Berger's business interests.
Last year Red Bull was represented by a Brit (Coulthard), a yank (Speed), Dutch (Doornbos), and Italian (Liuzzi). In '07 expect Red Bull drivers to be spread around the globe (again), and Speed should be among them. If Berger gets in the way, I expect him to be bought out.

[ketanpaul]

Well I think he is a nice driver and did do a pretty nice job with the available machinery, but he really need to work on his attitude. I dont think excessive arrogance is gonna lead him anywhere. As Paul Bettany said in the movie "Wimbledon" every newcomer needs to be taught the all-important lesson of humility. Look at Schumi, he's a world champ and the amount of humility he shows towards each and every person is just amazing, so I really dont think you have to be arrogant to be great, humility and complete self confidence are the key to success. Thats why I think he should probably go so that future drivers are not as arrogant as him.

[West]

He seems to have matured a bit, at least on Speed TV. At first I thought he was this young upstart motherf*cker trying to start sh*t, but towards the end his interviews seemed much more relaxed. He didn't show that in-your-face attitude as much, and he's given some decent results in an outdated car. Even the Speed announcers admitted he has matured a lot. I hope he stays because he can only get better... that and he's American. If he stays only one year everybody will know it was a PR stunt... even more so.

[m3_lover]

Let's not forget his little incident with Uncle David

[Heikkirocks]

I can't say for others but we found Scott a pretty cool guy, yes, he is a bit loud, a bit brash, but then you've just desribed the typical view of Americans from the veiw of some Brits, his driving has been better than people gave him credit for this year in a car that was hyped up due to having a V10 'oh it'll be at the front of the grid, unfair advantage' when in reality it wasn't a great deal better than the other 'also rans', yes we need an american in F1, how is it a 'global sport' without it? seen as a 'european series' otherwise we'll loose sponsors and the same decline as open wheeling in america. Having said that, F1 will survive without Scotty of course, pity Brian Herta never got a chance after that Minardi test at Donnington a few years back!

[wrk]

he's not cocky...he's just californian

same thing!!!

[RH1300S]

I read the same thing a while back on GrandPrix.com - I put it down to a bit of a non-story. I think he will be driving next year.

I must say - I think he got off on the wrong foot, having too much to say. But where it counts (in the cockpit) - it's fair to say he has had a good year.

Anyway an American with the name "Speed" just HAS to have a place in F1

[zenvision]

Would have been better if his first name was Max

[johny]

one Max is enough