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Formula One has been going through a phase of attempting to cut costs recently, the introduction of various rules controlling the amount of staff allowed at races, the amount of spare parts and the use of components within the cars all helping to shed some fat from the running costs and enable the entry barriers for new teams to be lowered. However, one rule that is due to come into force for 2009 actually adds considerable cost to some teams, so much in fact, they are currently in serious financial trouble. Continue Reading

Dave Richards has admitted that he has all but given up on entering Formula One due to the customer car saga. When Prodrive won the twelfth team slot, Dave was open about his intentions to collaborate with another team, but with the continued resistance from other teams, it is looking less likely that the FIA will go back on their decision and allow customer chassis to compete. Prodrive had hoped that the planned relaxation in the regulations would allow his team to work closely with McLaren, but at the Autosport International Show today the dream had faded. Continue Reading

Ex-Benetton and BAR boss David Richards has finally confirmed what most of us feared: Prodrive will not compete in the 2008 season. Having been awarded the twelfth slot on the grid for next year, beating other hopefuls along the way, Richards has invested an awful lot money into new facilities and staff to compete in Formula One. However, complications surrounding the Concorde Agreement have prevented the Briton from entering his team in next years championship. Continue Reading

Prodrive, Formula One’s twelfth team that is due to enter the sport in 2008 have hit a brick wall. They have been in the news this past fortnight regarding their intention to use another teams chassis. This is currently a grey area in the rules and regulations, and there is a battle going on at the moment centred around the 2007 entrants from Super Aguri and Scuderia Toro Rosso. However, under Max Mosley’s cost-cutting plans, it was thought this ruling would be clarified for next year in Prodrive’s favour, thus allowing team owner Dave Richards to hook up with a current team. Continue Reading

Aside from all the other controversies of the 2007 season, one other debate is yet to be finalised, even though it was initiated long before the Australian Grand Prix last March. The matter concerns the use of customer chassis by teams, and centres around Scuderia Toro Rosso, who are essentially using Red Bull’s car, Super Aguri, who are essentially using the 2006 Honda currently, and Prodrive who intend to use McLaren chassis next year when they join Formula One. The FIA are going to be holding a meeting later this month to decide how to proceed. Continue Reading