289 replies to this topic

[johnwilliamdavies]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...rmula1/34297046

[ViMaMo]

[Marklar]

Would fit to recent reports that Merc denied the deal with RB because RB just wanted an short-term contract....

[LeClerc]

I just got myself a VW. So I would, in principle, become a F1 sponsor. The mind recoils in horror!

[Marklar]

Eddie said it. So it must be true....

[CountDooku]

For the paddock clown, Eddie Jordan is never wrong on these rumours! It's as good as true if he's said it.

[apoka]

It would make some sense. RB want a strong engine, but they don't want Merc or Ferrari in the long term as that makes it harder to compete against the respective main teams. So it's either Honda, Renault (both not very competitive so far) or a new manufacturer and VW might pull it off.

 

But then the VW rumours are around for years and never quite became true ...

[AustinF1]

Cue the ALO to RBR 2018 rumors. He did spend a lot of time with Audi at Le Mans,right?

Edited by AustinF1, 18 September 2015 - 17:49.

[Atreiu]

Does this mena bye bye Hornr and Marko?

[SophieB]

I can't believe after all these years of rumours about how Audi are totally going to be coming to F1 that Audi might totally going to be coming to F1!

Seriously, exciting news and I hope EJ is correct and I hope it protects jobs.

[Marklar]

Queue ALO to RBR 2018 rumors. He did spend a lot of time with Audi at Le Mans,right?

He will be 37 by then....

[Fastcake]

Well Eddie's put himself on the line there!

 

We'll see. VW have certainly been close to F1 over the last few years - the recent rumours about Audi wanting to enter in conjunction with Red Bull weren't based on nothing - but it will be quite a shock for them to actually do it and buy a team.

[Myrvold]

For the paddock clown, Eddie Jordan is never wrong on these rumours! It's as good as true if he's said it.

That's my idea as well, he's usually been right on all these "no way" things, all from Schumacher to Hamilton. People laugh each year because Eddie is "the clown", and he is right, again and again.

[Atreiu]

He will be 37 by then....

 

37 isn't too old.

Edited by Atreiu, 18 September 2015 - 17:51.

[autosportfan]

VW, Audi, Lamborghini or Porsche, just wondering which brand they choose to use. Seat and Skoda sound quite unlikely!

[AustinF1]

He will be 37 by then....

No biggie. He's in great shape and doesn't seem to be falling as of yet. Not saying he'll go there. No way to know that. But I'd bet a lot of money he'll still be in F1 in 2018, performing at a high level.

[Marklar]

VW, Audi, Lamborghini or Porsche, just wondering which brand they choose to use. Seat and Skoda sound quite unlikely!

Audi is always the talk. But AMuS reported last year that if VW will come to F1 that they will come with Porsche. Lets see..

[WhiteSGPlayer]

Audi are probably just getting the stick to wake up the press guy. He needs to copy+paste the denial again

[JHSingo]

This story again? How many times have we heard this now? Believe it when it actually happens.

 

If true, however, it seems automotive companies aren't particularly concerned about global financial markets...what with what has been going on in China, and the ridiculous costs involved in F1 these days, I'm surprised to hear of any manufacturers wanting to enter F1 at the moment. First Renault, now Volkswagen?

 

I wonder if the regulations are finally starting to entice more manufacturers?

[AustinF1]

VW, Audi, Lamborghini or Porsche, just wondering which brand they choose to use. Seat and Skoda sound quite unlikely!

Lambo would be sweet...and The Bulls tie-in is too big to pass up, imho...

[hittheapex]

Well I'll be damned, a VW rumour that may turn out to be true.

 

Assuming it is...

 

Red Bull is a very strong base for a manufacturer wishing to buy a team to enter F1. I just hope history doesn't repeat itself the last time this Milton Keynes team was purchased by a major manufacturer.

 

I hope Red Bull continue their driver programme and can bring more drivers into the team if they become a major sponsor. I know it's not entirely meritocratic but it's done a lot for helping young drivers who didn't have $10m plus of sponsorship.

 

I'm not sure if VW will keep Horner if the story is true, which would be a loss to the team in my opinion but interesting to see what he would do next.

[CountDooku]

Guys, I kid you not - it's true. I make this 100% categorical statement based solely on the fact that Eddie Jordan said it.
If it was anyone else, I'd say "pffft, BS".

[OvDrone]

If Jordan is right again...

[CountDooku]

Lambo would be sweet...and The Bulls tie-in is too big to pass up, imho...

No reason why is couldn't be Red Bull Bentley and Lambourghini Rosso

[JHSingo]

Audi is always the talk. But AMuS reported last year that if VW will come to F1 that they will come with Porsche. Lets see..

 

Worth noting that Porsche recently recommitted to the WEC for the next few years, and are likely to remain there into the 2020s. So, unless there's a dual programme (which is fairly unlikely) I think you can safely count that name out.

Audi, maybe. There was talk earlier in the year they might axe their DTM programme if they entered F1. But their participation in the WEC may also be in doubt too.

[AustinF1]

If Jordan is right again...

Edited by AustinF1, 18 September 2015 - 17:52.

[shonguiz]

What would audi do with its current german base if they are going to race with a british team ? Convert it to sole engine manufacture ?

Edited by shonguiz, 18 September 2015 - 17:47.

[hittheapex]

He will be 37 by then....

 

 

37 is too old.

 

There have been several champions in their late thirties to early forties. I think it's too early to tell how he will be performing in 2018 or even if he still wants to race in F1 by then but I wouldn't rule it out. Especially if he thinks he can get into the WEC with Audi after doing a year or two with VW. Alonso, even in his twenties, talked about wanting to do Le Mans.

[Marklar]

What would audi do with its current german base if they are going to race with a british team ? Convert it to sole engine manufacture ?

The same what Merc did probably

[Atreiu]

There have been several champions in their late thirties to early forties. I think it's too early to tell how he will be performing in 2018 or even if he still wants to race in F1 by then but I wouldn't rule it out. Especially if he thinks he can get into the WEC with Audi after doing a year or two with VW. Alonso, even in his twenties, talked about wanting to do Le Mans.

 

 

Typo, I meant isn't.

I'll edit it.

[charly0418]

Red Bull leaving would be too much of a hit for F1... the only way it could be salvaged is if VW joins

 

Hopefully it happens, for the good of the sport

[Gyno]

Dream on.

 

With the engines rules in F1, this will never ever happen.

Edited by Gyno, 18 September 2015 - 17:53.

[anyeis]

http://bigstory.ap.o...n-air-standards

 

They certainly have the balls

[FullThrottleF1]

Not convinced yet, but EJ is rarely wrong. He is pretty well connected in the paddock.

[peroa]

Dream on.

 

With the engines rules in F1, this will never ever happen.

And if it does they will be in for a rude awakening, but that won't be Didi's problem anymore...

[Risil]

I hope Audi stay put at Le Mans, but this would certainly settle a few nerves about the future of Grand Prix racing.

 

Along with the future of Audi's chassis-building division, this also raises questions about Toro Rosso, Marko, the driver programme, Red Bull's huge constructor payments... too many to mention.

 

The only thing that strikes me as implausible is a VW-owned team running Ferrari engines for two years.

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

If true, So Ferrari had no plan to give RedBull their latest power unit.

 

VW being in Formula1 could be true for 2017 along with new regulations. 2016 is too late unless they treat it as a test session like McLarenHonda. I don't want RedBull team to collapse so even if VW bought RedBull F1, I hope all of the involved personals in chassis department to remain intact. RedBull have the best chassis once again and I don't want it to be wasted.

Edited by RYARLE, 18 September 2015 - 18:10.

[Ellios]

 

 

[superdelphinus]

Come on vw. I seriously hope they do, and that they use the Audi brand. Would be a great sign of health in f1 to have merc, Ferrari, Renault, Honda and VW as manufacturers in the sport.

However, Jordan does spurt out just as much (if not more) nonsense as he does stuff that turns out to be true so who know.

[onewingedangel]

I'd imagine any deal would be VW taking over the team and providing the engines and operating budget in exchange for several years Red Bull title sponsorship. So even if a deal was agreed in principal, it wouldn't come into effect until VW have an F1 engine ready to go, and whilst they have certainly some experience with the technologies involved through their WEC programmes, adapting them to the F1 regulations will still take time.

[superdelphinus]

I hope Audi stay put at Le Mans, but this would certainly settle a few nerves about the future of Grand Prix racing.

Along with the future of Audi's chassis-building division, this also raises questions about Toro Rosso, Marko, the driver programme, Red Bull's huge constructor payments... too many to mention.

The only thing that strikes me as implausible is a VW-owned team running Ferrari engines for two years.

Especially when vw tried to buy fiat a while ago!

[FullThrottleF1]

Unlikely according to Jonathan Noble: http://www.motorspor...i-rumours-swirl

[STRFerrari4Ever]

I think there might be some truth in this and Eddie Jordan is usually bang on the money with these sorts of stories.

Trying to view it from VW's POV, they've dominated in WEC with both their companies Porsche and Audi. F1 provides a different challenge and exposure. Yes attendance figures and tv viewing figures are down presently but look at how much exposure Mercedes have been getting through Hamilton directly and indirectly and their overall domination of the sport.

Red Bull still have one of the best aero departments in the whole sport, therefore buying the team would make sense and having them as the main sponsor would be great from a commercial standpoint too. Couple that with FIAT Chrysler increasing their commitment it seems with Ferrari for next year to try and topple Mercedes, VW might see a chance to come in and show up Honda, Renault and everyone for that matter.

[Pete_f1]

That would be good. Red Bull have the chassis people and they have some money for the engine... 

[Victor_RO]

Dream on.

 

With the engines rules in F1, this will never ever happen.

 

This. Unless engine regs get opened up, considering how badly Renault and Honda have fallen behind and have been struggling to catch up, you'd be mad to risk entering now, failing to match the frontrunners and not being allowed to catch up by the rules.

 

And the F1 media has cried wolf on this story sooooo many times, that I'll only believe it when I see an official statement from any VAG brand that they are confirming this move. Until then,  .

[PayasYouRace]

Eddie's often pretty good with these things, but it does seem unlikely. I wonder what our RB "insider" has to say about this?

[Ellios]

Eddie's often pretty good with these things, but it does seem unlikely. I wonder what our RB "insider" has to say about this?

 

I think sometimes BE uses EJ to force a subject, to push things along... nudge everyone in a certain direction

[SenorSjon]

So the Lamborghini V12 comes back to the track! 2018 is so far away, so we could have proper engines again.

[Victor_RO]

I think sometimes BE uses EJ to force a subject, to push things along... nudge everyone in a certain direction

 

With how much this rumour is repeated by the F1 media without anything happening, I reckon Bernie selects 3-4 journalists in the paddock each year and threatens them to have their accreditation removed unless they start a fresh "Audi to F1" rumour at some point during the season.

[Mart280]

Does this mean that Matashitz will no longer own the team ? and Red Bull just revert to being sponsors ? I hope so, if it is going to be another "German" team then maybe Christian "The Gloater" Horner will be out on his ear.