F1 News Snippets

[Penfold]

Two hundred million Pound cash boost for McLaren Group courtesy of Nicholas Latifi's dad: https://www.racefans.net/2018/05/19/mclaren-receives-200-million-cash-injection-from-company-linked-f2-driver-latifi/

Poor Van Door....

[Chrill]

Latifi isn't even close to securing the super license points necessary, though, so it's not as though he is a shoo-in for the 2019 seat.

[Penfold]

I should've really said poor Chuck Norris - I'm sure Van Door will have 2019 to underwhelm us yet further, but perhaps Latifi could then snatch that second seat from under the nose of L. Calrissian.  Of course, the investment may be primarily a business decision, or Latifi Sr. might be eyeing up an IndyCar or WEC seat for his lad if McLaren expand into those formulae.

[Matt]

There were fairly strong rumors, that weren't exactly refuted, that McLaren will be moving into IndyCar next season. They could send him there since IndyCar does provide superlicense points and Latifi could hope to get a chance in F1 after that. I don't think he would, but no reason for McLaren to tell him that...

[Penfold]

As soon as that for McLaren into IndyCar?  I've never supported a team in IndyCar but McLaren would change that - my affection for them a seemingly incurable affliction dating from the Prost/Senna era.

[Chrill]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-to-arrange-test-for-marquez-1040037/

Red Bull will give a private test to a bunch of two wheeling friends, chief among them Marc Marquez of MotoGP. His team mate Dani Pedrosa, and some motocross fool Tony Cairoli will also partake.

I mean, they're surely stronger than Hartley, but obviously this is more PR than an actual evaluation.

[Chrill]

Is Force India being taken over by the British energy drink "Rich Energy" after all?

Mallya stepping down:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/vijay-mallya-resigns-as-force-india-f1-director-seeks-appeal-in-assets-case/articleshow/64418215.cms

Reports saying the deal 'is done':
https://www.wheels24.co.za/FormulaOne/readyforce-india-buyout-deal-is-done-source-20180525

Rich Energy tweeting this:


Putting it all together, looks like a takeover is about to happen.

[Penfold]

Loving the old Lotus John Player Special colours... although the name 'Rich Energy Racing' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.  Still, be good to get some clarity around Force India's future.

[Matt]

How does that company have enough money to buy an F1 team?

[Chrill]

How does that company have enough money to buy an F1 team?

There has got to be external investors. For one thing, I've never heard of Rich Energy before Force India speculation arose, so it could tie into a big worldwide launch.

[Chrill]

http://www.f1i.com/news/299430-rich-energy-force-india-much-ado-nothing.html

Rich Energy Racing. Are they simply a fraud? Perhaps. Seems noone has ever heard of them really. Penfold, you're a Brit, have you ever had one of their drinks? Have you even seen them in stores?

[Penfold]

This is a 'premium' product we're talking about, no way does Rich Energy go hawking it's wares in something as mundane as a shop.  See their partners page for an idea of where you might find their overpriced liquid: https://richenergy.com/partners/ - or you can buy direct for a quid per tiny can: https://richenergy.com/shop/  And no, I've never drunk the stuff... but then I don't down energy drinks so I'm not even a potential customer.

Oh yeah, I am still massively dubious that this outfit has the cash to buy and run an F1 team.

[Chrill]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-honda-engine-deal-1046734/

Red Bull Honda confirmation imminent.

[Chrill]

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/6/red-bull-and-honda-agree-two-year-engine-deal-.html

And confirmation is now confirmed.

[Penfold]

Fantastic news for McLaren as they'll no longer have a Renault-powered car one second up the road.  Now it'll be a Honda-powered Red Bull way in front... oh hang on, I can see how that might not be such a positive.