HRT sacks staff and seeks buyer to avoid closure

[vcs316]

HRT has revealed that it is pushing to sell the Spanish F1 team. Before the official confirmation, it was reported by Spain's El Confidencial on Monday that the struggling team had dismissed 32 employees, and needed a buyer before December to avoid closure.

HRT, owned by Thesan Capital since last July, swiftly confirmed that it is "in talks with a number of groups interested in buying the team". The media statement said Thesan wants to complete a deal within weeks, adding that "the time has come for the team to continue growing with new financial backing". The new owners would be HRT's fourth since the team's inception in 2009. (GMM)

[Greig]

Ferrari should buy them

[Retroblue]

And use it as an on track testing team for its new parts

[Greig]

Yep Luca has been going on about 3 cars for ages, why not do like Red Bull and have 4 can let out young drivers develop there and as you say use it for track testing.

[stefa]

Yep Luca has been going on about 3 cars for ages, why not do like Red Bull and have 4 can let out young drivers develop there and as you say use it for track testing.

Why not? Ferrari could buy them for some small money, question is how expensive it is going to be to run them? But on the other hand Ferrari could test all the season in real conditions.

[mirafiori]

Ferrari should buy them

I bet LDM is thinking the same, it make sense, its got to be a win win situation. We can test new parts let our academy drivers learn there trade,

[Hornet]

Yep Luca has been going on about 3 cars for ages, why not do like Red Bull and have 4 can let out young drivers develop there and as you say use it for track testing.

Not sure if there's anything in the rule or agreement to prevent that, but yeah, I agree that it would be great if we can have a B team. They can train the young drivers and do all the extra testing for us.

[wisepie]

Shame for the team and employees but maybe we could have a B team if the rules allow it, but I always sort of felt that Sauber was already in that position. Can't quite understand why Toro Rosso run Ferrari engines either, unless that's a stipulation to allow Red Bull to have a second team. Also HRT needs a name change, if only to get away from the obvious hormone references! Hope they find a buyer anyway although I feel it's going to be difficult unless the budget cap is reduced even more.

[DIEK]

Ferrari should buy them

4 cars in the track, like RB...

And Pedro De la Rosa is and excelent test driver.

[mirafiori]

If in the unlikely event of Ferrari buying HRT, what would Ferrari call there new team?

[stefa]

If in the unlikely event of Ferrari buying HRT, what would Ferrari call there new team?

STT (Scuderia Testing Team)

[scuderia_nano]

Doesnt The word scuderia signify TEAM.?

[scuderia_nano]

Anyways. IT would be a shame if we had to buy a team to run yesting parts. WE ARE up there. JUST THAT Wind tunnel/ aerodynamics dept needs to be sorted

[Tifoso84]

If in the unlikely event of Ferrari buying HRT, what would Ferrari call there new team?

Well if Red Bull has a sister team called "Toro Rosso", then Ferrari could call it's sister team as "Scuderia Cavallino Rampante" or just "Scuderia Cavallino". That would be pretty cool.

[FranksterGM]

Bringing back the Minardi name would be great. Italian team.
And Giancarlo Minardi and Enzo were friends.

[Rob]

Should buy them, and as everyone saying already be our "2nd team". LcDM want 3 cars, why not have 4. Just like RBR do. Sauber only really connected to us for history and engines. But Scuderia Rosso Corsa could be used for our young drivers and testing beds for parts in the races to use on Parent teams cars. Hope do buy HRT.

[FranksterGM]

Seeing the Osella name wouldnt be bad, or Alfa, Forti.
quite a few possibilities.

[stefa]

Doesnt The word scuderia signify TEAM.?

Yes

[Tobes]

Can't see Luca wanting to buy HRT, makes sense to a point, but can't see it happening...

Was disappointed when Dave Richards wasn't given a chance with ProDrive when the new teams put in applications a few yrs ago, said at the time couldn't understand why such a clearly poorly funded and staffed team like HRT got the nod ahead of ProDrive...
Maybe Dave Richards (ProDrive) will get a chance... Aston Martin F1 sounds good...

[FranksterGM]

Oh man no, not Aston martin, another plastic english team with arab financing, running french or German engines...
As if F1 doeesnt have enough of those.

[ferrari1.8t]

Doesnt The word scuderia signify TEAM.?

It actually means Stable, but it is used to mean Team as well

[Senna4Ever]

On a german internet site about motorsports (http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/n..._12111402.html) I read that the situation about HRT seems worse than official expected.
The writer of the article mentioned that they have proofed information about it ...

[Greig]

James Allen ‏@Jamesallenonf1


#f1 Colleagues in Spain telling me HRT HQ is closing, all staff have redundancy notices. Sounds like that's it for them. 11 teams in 2013?

[Sianellen]

James Allen ‏@Jamesallenonf1


#f1 Colleagues in Spain telling me HRT HQ is closing, all staff have redundancy notices. Sounds like that's it for them. 11 teams in 2013?

Sad for all the people losing their jobs.