US F1 keeping Charlotte base

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US F1 has refuted rumours it is selling its F1 base in the USA.

The building the team operates from in Charlotte, North Carolina has appeared for sale prompting fresh speculation about the future of the team.

A US F1 spokesperson explained the team are tenants in the property and the owners have put the site up for sale, which will not affect their use of it as a base for their F1 programme this year.

The spokesperson added: “US F1 Team has a long term lease at the building, so no worries there. It is absolutely US F1 Team’s intention to compete this season.”

According to the property advert the team spent $620,000 (�395,000) on renovations to the site last year and have leased it until June 2014.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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64 comments on “US F1 keeping Charlotte base”

  1. Is it just me or has anyone else stopped believing anything USF1 has to say? In this case it seems like a reasonable explanation, but I have so little faith in the team and its occasional boasts and ramblings- led mainly by Peter Windsor- that I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re lying again and this is actually another huge setback for them.

    1. Also why so quiet on their website, they were pretty active in January, but it’s been dead quiet for a couple of weeks. Marketing-wise and if everything was still going according to plan racing-wise, wouldn’t you like to keep producing news, and maybe some new vids? For fans, future sponsors, and us doubters?

    2. It’s not just you Ned, I have too. I had faith in USF1 and Campos’ ability to get their cars ready in time for Bahrain, but I have given up on them both now.

      I WANT to see both of them on the grid, but I don’t think they will be.

      1. I think US F1 in particular will be fine, Campos however is where my concerns currently are.

    3. If you all remember correctly.. these new teams entered assuming there was going to be a budget cap, well… our favorite ‘big dog’ teams went and pulled the rug right out from under that idea… that would clearly explain the problems these new teams are having.

      best of luck to all who enter this circus of snobs

      1. Although USF1 have stated they’ve been planning this entry for 4 years, way before the budget cap was proposed, so it in theory, has nothing to do with it.

    4. I believe USF1 as much as I believe *any* F1 team. I thought they were scheduled to run their car last weekend at a track in Alabama @ Barber Motorsport Park. No “news” or pics coming out of from that coupled with only having a single driver lends support to the claim that they are no longer serious about being on the grid for Malaysia and maybe not for 2010 at all. I sincerely hope they do since America *needs* to put itself back on the F1 map and I do think Ken & Peter had the right idea.

  2. You know they’d silence a lot of their critics/doubters if they signed a second driver and actually launched their car…

    …at least with Campos we know the car can be built (thanks to them outsourcing it to Dalara) so it’s just a matter of money (just!!). But with USF1 they have so much to prove and nothing really concrete to dispel any doubts.

  3. If someone had the inclination to be a real jerk they could call the broker posing as a serious buyer “But I need that lease nullified and the place vacated, how much money will it take?” Just prod around and see if he is willing to even consider it.

    1. It wouldn’t really tell you anything. For the right price any lease can be broken. Its just a matter of if you are willing to pay enough to make the hassle of moving worthwhile for the tenant. This is a real non-story. Its VERY common for a company to lease and not own the building their in. Especially if they’re a new company and may end up outgrowing the building.

  4. HounslowBusGarage
    16th February 2010, 15:31

    It’s Windsor; isn’t it. Whenever he says anything, I look for corroborating evidence. And when he says nothing at all, I’m suspicious.
    I want US F1 to race because we need a US team to build interest in the States. But also I want US F1 to race if only to stop Windsor later claiming that the sneekey European teams wouldn’t let them race because they knew that US F1 would be faster.

    1. I’m dying to see USF1 race…or at the very least to see their car, if only to see how they’ve managed to put their transverse gearbox in…

  5. When Bernie starts to state that the team was sounding to be in trouble a few weeks back, then I pretty much took it as decided. Outside the team, he would have the best idea of what each team is up to.

    Considering this is the worst economic slump in many years, starting a new team would a gigantic undertaking, considering this is a sport relying almost exclusively on sponsorship to pay the bills.

  6. if Stephan Gp enters instead of Campos, i hope their lineup will not be NAK and ralf SCHU. Make it KLI and SAT, or even HEI.

    1. I think it would be funny to see Ralf Schumacher back in F1 especially seeing as his much greater brother has returned. Would be good to see sato in that seat also though always liked that guy Gutsy to say the least.

  7. I read online last week that USF1 was supposed to do the FIA crash test for their car on 15 FEB. If the crash test was passed, the plan was to test the car in the U.S. this weekend. Has their been any news about the crash test yesterday? Does anyone know?

  8. So people think Windsor is lying, yet the property advert itself says that USF1 are tenants until 2014 and that this won’t change. I think deep down, some people just want USF1 to fail. They are supposed to be launching their car 20-25 February, and will probably announce their second driver at the same time. If, by the 26 February, we have heard nothing then I’ll get worried. Until then, lets just wait and see and drop this ‘I want them to be there but I don’t think they will be’ act.

    1. While I’m not one of them, I think those who would rather see them fail would at least prefer to see them do it on the track rather than just closing down and withdrawing their entry.

      Personally I hope they do make it, Lotus vs. Virgin F1 is already getting me excited, some plucky yanks being thrown into the mix would be great.

      1. I don’t think people “want to see them fail” – the naysayers want to see a viable, professional US Formula 1 team – the problem is that there is a very real danger that these guys either won’t make the grid at all, or will be a disaster of Lola-Mastercard proportions if they do – and that makes them a potential laughing stock, and will do immense damage to the image of F1 in the states.

        1. HounslowBusGarage
          16th February 2010, 20:37

          Precisely.

        2. +1, i want to see them there, but i have no faith in it at the moment. Different things

          1. Jarred Walmsley
            17th February 2010, 6:11

            That is exactly right, some of us actually do want USF1 to get to bahrain and race, however what we are saying is look at the facts, no pics of the car, only 1 driver, and the season is less than a month away. We don’t even know if they have passed the crash tests or not. However it is not just USF1 I am just as concerned or even more so about Campos for the same reasons as above. And they have the Senna name so sponsers should be less of an issue and they are european based so costs should also be lower

        3. Bring it on US F1. I would really like to see a story of the likes of Adrea Moda rewritten.

  9. Just watched the race edit of the British GP on f1.com, has anyone else heard vettels crazy frog impression at the end? it made me laugh so much!!

  10. So I think that Stefan GP are a better choice then. Bring them on.

    1. I reckon you’re right. Stefan have infrastructure, a plan, and we have heard from them in the last month. We all want USF1 to get on the grid and be competitive but why the delays? Windsor kept saying on Aussie TV that the team had been a multi year plan to enter F1 in 2010, not just since the rule changes and budget restrictions were announced (even though the budget restrictions were scrapped it’s really only been in the past 12 months that Campos, Lotus and Virgin appeared). If that was the case how can Lotus, in a couple of months, get a team and a car built and on track yet USF1 with all their american know-how, cannot?

      By all rights they should have been first of the new boys on track, not one of the last. Very concerning indeed. Windsor’s reputation will not benefit from this at all…

      1. Yeah, as much as i want a stable team in f1 than a team that could drop out, just because stefan gp is making more noise doesn’t make them stable and race ready.

        i hope usf1 make it, campos aren’t making noise but dallara is a solid partner to rely on so i’m not so worried about them.

        the next week or two will be interesting to see if usf1 launch a car or not.

  11. banned from J.Allen site
    16th February 2010, 17:01

    they will be there, they just need time. Bernie will give it to them, he just have other team knocking on the door. He can’t afford to waste them.
    If the story was different, they would be already dead.

    1. What makes you say Bernie will give it to them(time that is) he is only interested in cold hard cash.

  12. As far as i know, USF1 was going to get their chassis crash tested today or tomorrow…

    what happened to that? no rumours?

    1. USF1 has canceled the crash test!
      http://en.espnf1.com/

  13. So, if USF1 and Campos dont make it to the grid, then how will qualifying go, as there will only be 6 cars in the ‘top ten’ shoot out?

    1. If the number of cars is reduced then the numbers knocked out in Q1 and Q2 changes. For 26 cars it’s 8/8/10, for 24 it’s 7/7/10, for 22 it’s 6/6/10 and for 20 it’s 5/5/10.

  14. But surely there is a time limit given to these two teams??? I mean if Virgin were able to do it well within the time limits then why not the other two?

    Can the teams not be forced to reveal where they are in respect to the design and launch of their car. If they are not ready for the season start then remove them and let Stefen GP in?

    I personally dont think a team should be allowed to miss up to 3 races in a season. Makes you wonder, there were quite alot of teams that applied to enter F1 and places were given to USF1 and Campos. I wonder, on what grounds.

    1. Lotus had much less to prepare.

      1. Much less as in time.

  15. Oh, no, I’ve started believing everything they say because they’re saying nothing (see what I did there?).

    This quote speaks volumes: ‘It is absolutely USF1 Team’s intention to compete this season.’

    I’m sure it is…

    1. It was Schumacher’s “Intention” to sign with Jordan – but he didn’t.

    2. Yeah, that quote about USF1’s “intentions” bothered me too. I intend to marry Jessica Alba and have more money than Warren Buffett, but that doesn’t mean it is likely to happen.

      1. I intend to invent a time machine, travel back in time and make myself loads of money so that when I go check my balance today it will be enough to buy an F1 team…

        …I’m off to the cash point at lunch so will let you know how that goes..!!

  16. Is it true that FIA are confirming today that NEW F1 teams CAN miss the first three races and that it is not true that no races can be missed by any team ?

    If that is correct, then the pressure is off USf1 and Campos. Yet even if it is true, surely they have crash test and other deadlines which they must meet ?

    It’s less than a month to the first race of the season and surely some deadlines have to be met ?

  17. For crying out loud, let’s just see if they turn up to Bahrain before – with barely-hidden glee – righting them off after interpreting everything you read about them as giving you justification to do so. Maybe they’re not as on top of things or on schedule as they wanted and you expect (more like demand, given the tone of some posts) them to be, but guess what? They’re a new team, and some newcomers will inevitably find out the hard way that things are harder to accomplish than they first thought.

  18. personally i think they wont make it to bahrain. campos is looking even more unlikely and that would be a shame. at this time of financial hardship i believe F1 needs more teams more than ever to survive! even IF ( and i hope they do!) USF1 and Campos do make it too bahrain, i hope they let in Stefan GP as well. the resources that they have bought and the fact they have a car already in a container heading to bahrain, suggests that this team is more than ready to fill the gap. my 2 cents worth anyway!

  19. Let’s just wait and see if USF1 turn up at Bahrain. I personally hope they do along with all new teams. Having a lease on their headquarters through to 2014 shows some commitment I think. Remember this time last year, no one knew what was happening with Honda. Lots of people are claiming that Stefan GP are a better option. Has anyone seen anything out of them? All we know is they bought the Toyota facilities. Has anyone actually seen a car? What evidence is there to suggest they are better prepared that either USF1 or Campos?

    1. I meant, what evidence is there to suggest they are better prepared than either USF1 or Campos?

      1. Not really any evidence from usf1 or campos except at least campos car is made by dallara. Stefan GP have at least a car that was toyotas entry for this year. Also they will be testing that car on the 25th of Feb.

  20. now you have euro sport at yahoo quoting you keith!

    “USF1 has a long term lease on the building so there are no worries there, a spokesperson for the team revealed to F1Fanatic

    1. Well spotted! They get their news from Crash.net it seems, so here it is on there: http://www.crash.net/f1/news/156892/1/usf1_plays_down_factory_talk.html

  21. Yo !
    Too much tobacco chewin� and moonshine drinkin� and gun haulin� and where is the car brothas?

    1. Now look here. That’s quite enough tea, scones and cricket for you.

  22. Also, in related news: Jonathan Summerton announced on his Facebook page that he is looking at Indy Cars this year. I am very disappointed. I had really hoped he would get the second ride at USF1, but evidently something has happened to make him change his focus.

  23. Budget cap or not, they can spend as little on the car as they want. I even can image the issues they have in building the car in time. But what I do not understand is the radio silence. The rumours are killing the company. Communicate your problems and your progress. Everybody understands it’s not easy to do an F1 team startup. Let us fans know what you are doing and explain your issues. Maybe help will come if we know whats up.
    I still want to believe they will make it in time.

  24. Just read the advert to sell the premise.
    So the tenants renovated for 600K and now the owner sells for 3M. Why didn’t USF1 buy the place?

    1. Never heard of the site, but at this point, it’s a forgone conclusion I’m afraid.

  25. Oy vey. Well I guess with the total lack of news from the team and all the rumours flying I have to accept that this is a big disappointment. Not because I have any sentiment for the US in particular, just that it would have been a cool thing to have an American (as in North OR South) team in F1. Bah hambug!

  26. I heard/read 2 rumors:

    1. a german f1 website reports Mr. Hurley and Mr. Campos are going together, leaving Windsor and Anderson alone with the USF1 project.

    2. On the other hand I heard USF1 booked a date to homologate their car beginning of March.

    Whatever. When the flag drops the ******** stops…

  27. Hasta la vista USF1. Shame, a good entry from the US would have been excellent news for F1 in the States. Wonder which horse Chad is going to back now? And will this open the door for Stefan F1?

  28. Jraybay-HamiltonMclarenfan
    17th February 2010, 23:03

    Wat about when they need parts? Are the going to sip those over to Europe each time?

    1. Jraybay-HamiltonMclarenfan
      17th February 2010, 23:03

      going to *ship*

  29. All these grandiose schemes and ideas! Build our own car from the ground up, transverse gearbox, radical layouts, we know better, BULL****! Not one of these brilliant people thought of TRANSITION! While you are collecting your ideas, concepts, equipment, buy the Toyota team or have an established builder manufacture you a car for the first year and don’t do any development. Use that year to create your car. Brawn showed us how. With your presence established on the grid, get some experience with your personnel. Lay a foundation. Instead we get vapors.

  30. Autoweek has an article from the 17th. Trouble in Paradise? http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100217/F1/100219907

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