5 replies to this topic

[Williams]

from autorace.com

Telefonica pulls out of F1

Telefonica, Spanish telecommunications company, announced on Tuesday that they are ending their sponsorship of the Minardi team at the end of the 2000 season.

In turn Telefonica confirmed their commitment to their involvement in rallying and motorcycling and a media release by the company stated: "Telefonica have decided not to renew their sponsorship agreements with Formula 1 as from next season after considering that the various options available do not meet the aims of the company".

Marc Gene was linked to the Prost team for the 2001 season as his sponsorship from Telefonica would have helped pay for the team's Ferrari engine supply. Autorace reported on the 13th of October the sentiments of Gene regarding his future in F1 and his involvement with Telefonica.

From Oct 13: Gene comments on Prost rumours

It has been said that Marc Gene is the hot favourite for partnering Jean Alesi in the 2001 season, specially with the Telefonica sponsorship which will help pay for the Prost team's Ferrari engine supply.

ITV reported on Gene's sentiments regarding the rumours and he was quoted as saying: "I don't have to follow Telefonica if they choose to leave, and I would like to drive a Minardi-Supertec next season. I know how good the team is and next year there would be a real chance to show that. There would be no excuses."

With the pullout of Telephonica, is this the end of the line for Gene, who must now either find new sponsorship or find a team who will take him on merit ?

[Pacific]

Now that PSN has purchased like 78% of Minardi, it may not be a problem. It likely means that Mazzacane has the second seat, but who gets the first seat could come down to whoever is the best available. Gene is among those.

We now have to wait and see what happens with Pedro Diniz. Where he ends up determines pretty much everything else left. Diniz could stay with Sauber, he could go to Prost, he could end up at Minardi. I've never heard any official Minardi rumors, this is just my own speculation. It's been said that Prost has a couple sponsors, Labatt for instance, in the wings to sponsor his team.

Minardi will likely look at three drivers now: Pedro Diniz, Marc Gene, and Fernando Alonso to drive their car next season. All they can do is make Diniz an offer and see where he goes. Gene shows a willingness to stay, and that's good for morale. Alonso shows the most talent of the three. He's not the best currently, in fact he's last, but, he's very young, very talented. I really don't see Wurz, Herbert, or anybody like that going down to Minardi.

There are the Toranosuke Takagi/Minardi/Mugen rumors. PIAA would also likely follow Takagi to Minardi if that were to happen. It could happen without Mugen. So, make that four drivers. The other Minardi test-driver, Giorgio Vinella, has no shot at the F1 ride, probably ever, but certainly for this season.

So, my bad, make that four drivers Minardi has to look at. For real likely selections anyway.

If Gene does end up losing this battle, I doubt he'd leave F1 entirely. You know, Benetton/Renault could use a good F1 caliber test-driver to keep up with Ferrari, McLaren, Jordan, and possibly Williams with Herbert. Williams could also look at Mark Blundell if they wanted too. For Arrows, if they can retain Mark Webber as their test driver, you have to look upon them with credibility I think too. BAR with Manning isn't bad, they could also end up with Takagi in a testing role. Sauber will likely have Bernoldi testing, and Raikkonen may join him, but Kimi might also drive the car next season. Prost, hard to know, if they hold onto Sarrazin, he's pretty good. But, he's not really going anywhere. Jaguar has Tomas Scheckter, that's credible. But to be in the top five in F1, you will probably have to have an F1 quality test-driver. That's how competitive things are nowadays.

[MacFan]

This is strange.... If you listen to RedFever, Gene is more deserving of a McLaren drive than DC is. You'd think somebody else in F1 would notice this wouldn't you?

[vroom-vroom]

Gené has got to be one of the most overrated drivers in F1 today - along with Diniz and Mazzacane. What the heck has he done to justify all this praise? Oh yeah, he scored one or two points for Minardi last year at the Nurburgring after everyone else dropped out, including his teammate Badoer who was running 3d or 4th at the time...Besides that great exploit, he is a regular last row qualifier and polite mover-over when being lapped. No great loss if Gené disappears from F1 all together, IMO.

[baddog]

ermm.. the fact his minardi is HUGELY underpowered and is in no way capable of competing even with the prost (who's peugeot lump, though problematic is in fact quite quick) might have SOMETHING to do with that vroomvroom...

Gene has shown all the signs of being a decent F1 driver. I would like to see him in a car that was at least midfield.. just to see what he can do. Id be surprised and dissapointed to see him out of F1.

Shaun

[Megatron]

Minardi should keep him as a test driver. I can't imagine building a car around Gaston Mazzacane.