Pre-Season 2013 Season

[RasputinLives]

Yep and common sense says Hamilton has a far better chance than Webber

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Yeah. I suppose we are looking at odds on the ultimate prize rather than a predicted finishing order.

 

[teabagyokel]

ExtremeNinja - Yep. I'd say that the probability of Webber beating Hamilton in the WDC is very high, but Hamilton is still more likely to win the Championship!

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Yep. I had lost myself and then RasputinLives helped me find my way back.

 

[Brogan]

Scarbs has just tweeted this:

Hearing worrying news this morning about team finances ahead of the new season. Fingers crossed for a full grid

https://twitter.com/ScarbsF1/status/292198253724848128

I wonder if it's Force India?

 

[racecub]

This tweet suggest it is Force India
http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=38492&cat=1

Sorry it's in Italian. I think it means there's a crisis.

 

[Brogan]

Which goes some way to explaining why the drivers haven't been confirmed yet.

I expect they are looking for two pay drivers with very large wallets.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Vijay Mallya is having some problems with his airline from the tax man.
I wonder if its connected.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...34-crore-tds-dispute/articleshow/18055011.cms

 

[sushifiesta]

This is the most extensive article I've found so far but it is all based on rumour and speculation:
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/force-india-could-collapse-amid-mallya-crisis-430830/

I find all of this very strange considering they were the first to announce their launch date.

 

[FB]

Vijay sold a major stake in the team to Sahara but, presumably, the tax man doesn't care and wants his pound of flesh. If Mallya had sold the whole team then there probably wouldn't be a problem. Wonder if EJ fancies taking it over again?

edit: just read the second article....

FLAVIO!

Now, wheres that picture?

 

[sobriety]

Dear god no...

 

[teabagyokel]

FB - as you would put it: "Send for a large Italian gentleman".

 

[Bill Boddy]

I wouldn't have thought that Flabio would be the man to put money into an F1 team. Take his cut, yes, pay out to a bottomless pit, no.

 

[RasputinLives]

Oh dear Force India. To be fair we all were predicting cash flim problems back in October coz of VJ's problems but they shut us up by saying they were injecting 50m.

If cash flow is a problem I'm afraid a line up of Bruno Senna and Narain Karthekeyen may be on the cards. Exit stage left Paul Di Resta.

 

[Bill Boddy]

di Resta may get engines and gearboxes from Mercedes though. That and a bit of cash could help enormously.

 

[sushifiesta]

From the horse's mouth: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105185

 

[Greenlantern101]

Not long now

 

[siffert_fan]

I see on Autosport that Portugal now wants to host the 20th GP. Unfortunately, not at the Estoril circuit, but at a new track called
Algarve. Is anyone familiar with that circuit?

 

[FB]

This one?

http://autodromodoalgarve.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=139&lang=english

 

[no-FIAt-please]

A pre-season test was held there in 2009, however the teams were put off it because the weather was atrocious. I believe it already has the 'ecclestone-sprinker' technology installed. Interesting...