Haas linked with a Maserati partnership
- Published on 07 Dec 2017 17:00
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- By: Fergal Walsh
The Haas Formula 1 team has been linked to a partnership deal with Maserati, who has been absent from F1 for 60 years. The rumoured partnership is reportedly a title sponsorship deal, similar to the one Sauber has recently stricken up with Alfa Romeo.
Sergio Marchionne, who is the CEO of Fiat Chrysler (the parent company of Maserati), recently suggested that a deal could happen between Haas and Maserati. Haas entered the sport two years ago, running some Ferrari parts on its car as well as using its wind tunnel in the build-up to its first year.
Marchionne said: "Is it possible for the Haas arrangement to turn into something other than what we have today? The answer is potentially ‘yes’," he said. "But we’re very far away from a resolution on that matter, but it’s possible. We’ll see, time will tell."
If the deal is to go ahead, it is believed that it would generate an additional 20m Euros per annum for the American team. Under the regulations constructed by former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Haas did not receive any prize money following the 2016 season.
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Replies (16)
Login to replymcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
whoa! Did not see that one coming.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I sorta didnt, and sorta did. I pretty much expected Ferrari to try to treat both their customers equally. But I wasnt sure if Maserati of all brands would be returning to F1, even if its just as a sponsor.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
This... doesn't make any sense. HAAS is far from being competitive, neither is Sauber, but there's a difference between being a luxury premium brand and Alfa, who is struggling at best to be a somewhat premium brand. For Alfa participation is enough to give a rub to the brand. Maserati would need to be a contender to not adversely affect the brand.
blasterrr
Posts: 1
It makes perfect sense. Marchionne and F1 (which is owned by Americans now) are trying to increase their presence in America, which is by far the largest untapped market left for both. What Haas has achieved in its first two years is unmatched in the modern history of the sport. To look at the constructors table and say Haas isn't competitive is being dumb basically. Look at both their seasons so far, and their performance dropped off because they started work on their cars sooner than anyone else in the field. 25 million a year from Marchionne will fix that issue. And the 25 million comes in the form of free engines from Ferrari. A good deal for both.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
Look, they aren't competitive. They are not as bad as Manor, but for the most part in a position where they have to rely on other cars to retire to get anywhere near the points. It's unmatched because for all intents at purposes they've bought a ready made F1 car, and still they're struggling.
The way things are shaping up, they could very well find themselves at the back of the grid next year.
I'd agree with you in terms of presence in the US if they were at Force India's level. But where they're at now, it means less than nothing. Just ask Ford/Jaguar.
Barron
Posts: 625
I don’t understand the comments that Haas has achieved unmatched performance, and, is “working on next year’s car”. How so? Haas is not a full Constructor and makes nothing bigger than a suspension component or a bearing or two. Everything else comes from Ferrari or Dallara. Haas entered F1 “on the cheap” and his results will reflect that. The only thing that will save Haas F1 is a budget cap, otherwise he will be out developed and outraced by the other legitimate 9 teams. I admire what he has achieved but I think he may have underestimated Dallara’s ability to operate in a bespoke way which an F1 chassis requires. He’s always going to be behind the curve if he doesn’t have control of production of the principal parts. Haas would like nothing more than to push F1 towards a ‘spec’ series of standardisation. It ain’t going to happen. F1 is an engineering as well as driver championship and only ‘full’ constructors should qualify. He’s got away with it so far, but I think the other teams will be keeping a watching brief..
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Full house for likely tie ups with luxury sports car brands?
Alfa, Maserati, Aston Martin, McLaren (themselves), ditto Ferrari & Merc. Other candidates are going for the quiet option, stealth racing in the Duracel series, Audi, etc.
Who could be next? Jag, done it, gone; BMW done it, gone; Toyota done it, gone; Honda, done it, gone and half way back. Am I missing anyone? Leaves Force India a bit lonely ?
Suggestions anyone?
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I am quite surprised that nobody has tried to sponsor Force India. Operationally speaking it might be the best team on the grid. It just happens to have a small budget. I was quite disappointed that Aston Martin ended up going with Red Bull. I do wonder if the problem is that Force India has a lot of sponsorship that might not go so well with luxury brands. They have taken a bit of everything.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I think the problem is more down to the insecurity around FI. Mallya's problems could very well strike back on the team as a whole, and thats not a promising prospect. I really cant think of anything else holding them back. Other sponsors really only tend to be problematic if they are direct competitors, like two competing car brands and so on.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
And Ferrari still expects everyone to believe that their quitting threats are legitimate. I'd venture to say that Ferrari has never been more deeply committed to Formula 1 than right now.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yeah, but maybe thats a part of it. Scare tactics to show off the damage they could deal if they were to pull it all out in one swipe.
Jutlandia
Posts: 191
Haaserati?
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Like it.
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Interesting that no major Chinese auto companies jumped in yet as a major F1 sponsor, having their own GP for a while, but then there isn’t a home grown luxury sports brand. I might more realistically expect a partnership for the duracel series, they are moving forward quite a pace I gather on EV,s.
Barron
Posts: 625
A Chaguar? Chasten Martin? McHaren? Chaserati? Cherrari? Choyota? Chonda? They could make them all!
Harryw
Posts: 107
Ferrari are increasing their influence within F1 so any rule changes that impact them would hit F1 harder. Russia do this well politically across the world. Proven tactic