First a brand new Yank' F1 Team arrived on the
grid. Next an American Tycoon and his Entertainment business purchased Formula
1, leaving only an American driver out of the mix...
As that's the story I posted here upon thou
No Fenders pages last year, prior to the somewhat controversial arrival of Haas
F1. And NO! I'm NOT meaning as in Gene Haas and his sorted legal affairs Ye
earlier Days. Can Y'all say Tax Evasion! But I digress...
Nope, the controversy surrounds the clever
manipulation of the Haas VF-16 being a Customer Chassis, for which I simply
detest! As seriously FIA, does Yuhs wanna become another Chump; Err Champ Car
or IndyCar spec-series?
Although Gunther Steiner and Mr. Haas
followed the current letter of the law "Wink-wink, Nudge-Nudge!" For
A-L-L intensive purposes, the VF-16 is a Scuderia-Dallara hybrid, pun intended!
Having not only worked extremely close with
Maranello on its chassis development along with some sneaky wind tunnel testing
methodologies benefitting both the Prancing Horse and Haas before the FIA
clarified it's rules. Along with bolting Ferrari's latest customer PU, nee "0611"
1.6-litre V-6 turbocharged Power Unit and ancillaries, i.e.; running gear, nee
transmission to its backside, making for a very potent racecar!
Alas, is I-T fair to compare Haas's debutant
Formula 1 season to thou "lowly" Manor? Or even worse yet, look at
how Sauber, reputedly the fourth oldest team on the grid, and a true Bonified
Constructor is still batting Goose-eggs this season, having failed to score a
single Constructor point, (thru the USGP) which even
the rejuvenated Manor Racing's done...
But Don't get me wrong, especially since Haas
is flying the flag of my country, the good 'Ol United States of Americre', and
thus I dually wish for Haas to succeed and remain upon the grid for a long
time, especially since it's been three decades since the last American
"Flagged" F1 Constructor contested a Grands Prix season, ironically
being the late Carl Haas's (no relation) Force-Lola team turbo effort of 1985-86.
Alas, albeit Haas Lola )Beatrice-FORCE) were
on the grid wrapped in the Stars & Stripes, any astute Open Wheel Racing
devotee knows that Carl Haas was Lola's, a thoroughly British chassis builder's
North American importer, ruling mightily over Championship auto Racing Teams
(CART) equipment purchasers...
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| Extremely Old "Classic Blue Oval" Ford F1 patch purchased many Moons ago. (The Tomaso Collection) |
Hence, in my much earlier Formula One euphoria,
I simply turned my Attenzione towards the Blue Ovals involvement in the sport
instead, specifically the Benetton team, who became "FoMoco's" (Ford
Motor Company) Works entry some four years prior to a fresh faced German
Wunderkind's arrival at Enstone.
As it's a travesty to Mwah that not only that
Ford turned its back upon single seater motor racing on both sides of the
"Puddle," i.e.; Formula 1 and IndyCar, but also sold Cosworth,
leaving Haas F1 only the choice of Ferrari, Mercedes or Renault customer engine
supply instead.
Hence, if the new American' owners of Formula
1, nee John "Darth Vader" Malone's Liberty Media conglomerate, with Chairman
"Chevy" Chase (Carey) at the controls of the rebranded
Formula One Group, with Zachery Brown rumoured to being added as marketing
Guru. Then certainly Y'all need an honest-to-goodness American driver, right?
As Haas F1's current lineup is spearheaded by
Frenchman Romain "These Brakes SUCK!" Grosjean and Mexicali Wingman
Esteban Gutierrez with Charles Leclerc and Santino Ferrucci
as it's "simulator Jockeys," nee Test/Reserve Drivers.
Last year at Circuit Of The Americas, we
finally witnessed Yank' Alexander Rossi shining in the rain, finishing his
career best in Formula 1 with a 14th place finish aboard the Back marker
Manor-Marussia F1 chassis, with year old Ferrari PU's in his limited five races
outing.
But Rossi wasn't probably ever gonna get a proper
chance at Haas F1, especially since he and Gutierrez
apparently aren't real friendly with each other, with Rossi having bested the
Mexican in Formula BMW, while certainly Esteban brings substantial financial
backing from Senor Carlos Slim, Ci?
Thus Rossi, who was ultimately aced out by Indonesia's
desires for its maiden home grown driver to debut in Formula 1, giving Rio Haryanto
more Dinero than Rossi could afford, leaving the Californian out in the cold
once again.
But as we all know now, Alexander, with the
help of the crafty Bryan "High Speed Hurdles" Herta's strategy calls
gained his revenge upon the F1 circus by unexpectedly winning America's Grand Prize,
the Indy 500, this May being the Magnanimous 100th running of said story event
NO less.
WAY TO G-O ROSSI!
As not sure when
he'll be seeing his Mug adorning the vaunted Borg Warner trophy forever, along
with receiving his Baby Borg trophy & having his face plastered upon 200,000+
Indy 500 tickets next year...
As Rossi's decided wisely I'd add, to remain
in Indy Cars next year with a competitive ride, nee Andretti-Herta Autosport
where he'll enjoy the opportunity of winning each weekend vs. running
Tail-gunner Charlie in Formula 1...
And it's funny to Mwah how "Mikey
A" continues brandishing the fact that America's last three F1 drivers all
reside with Andretti Autosport, with Rossi in IndyCar, Scotty "the
Goose" Speed in Global Rallycross and Michael Andretti being their boss.
Leaving us to ponder just who is this Santino Ferrucci
chap with the Italian sounding name? And could he become America's next
generation Formula 1 Hot Schue? With the 18yr old Woodberry, Connecticut
teenager currently plying his trade in GP3 for perennial title winners DAMS,
Ferrucci could be set to mimic Lance Stroll's ascension to F1 one day, perhaps?
Whilst surely Haas
cannot ever realistically dream of winning a Grand Prix, or definitely a
championship as a customer team...