2005 was the last year that privateers, the small teams, appeared on the grid. Minardi was the last team of an era were many tried their luck in the Formula One. Due the coming ban on turbo engines in 1989 and the restrictions, it was financially attractive for teams to try their luck. Most of them failed to even complete two season, some only did a few races before they
Prost Grand Prix once a winning team was on the edge of bankruptcy in late 2000. The team was already on their knees in the early summer days of 2001. There was a savior for the team. Prince Khaled Al-Waleed the son of Al-Waleed bin Talal invested 10 million dollar in the team around June 2001. Was Prost Grand Prix saved now? Talks were held to keep the team on
Minardi is probably one of the few teams in the rich history of the Formula One with plenty of rumoured drivers to drive for the team. Even more rumoured are the takeovers of the Minardi F1 Team. As to quote Paul Stoddart in 2005 “Over 40 groups were interested in taking over Minardi”. Let’s uncover history and see the almost driver moves for Minardi. 1984 – Minardi M184 Debut with
Welcome to the second episode of the Old Rumour Mill of Formula One. A special blog dedicated to the old rumours of Formula One. Many rumours appeared during the years. Some were just silly “Alain Prost to move to Benetton in 1992”. Others were just amazing to read “Pedro Diniz to move to Ferrari in 2000”. Every week a new episode of the Old Rumour Mill of Formula One will
2001 marked the end of an era. As Benetton would leave the Formula One. Their engine supplier Renault decided to buy the team and bring Renault back in the Formula One as a team. The Benetton B201 would score one last podium at the Belgium circuit, as the car struggled a lot with the engine. During after season testing the Benetton B201 appeared on the track only this time in
In the summer of 2000 AMT, Asia Motor Technologies, acquired the totality of the Peugeot Formula One Engine project. After several difficult years Peugeot decided to stop with their Formula One project. AMT, under the lead of Enrique Scalabroni, announced a few weeks later it closed an exclusive deal with the Arrows F1 Team. Later In the season the Arrows AMT A21 would appear on Valencia for their first test.
Paul Stoddart is a well-known person in the Formula one paddock. Previously as Minardi Team Boss and more recently he is back in the paddock with his Minardi X2-seaters, which he gives demonstrations with during Grand Prix Weekends. However, did you know Paul Stoddart tried to enter the Formula One 20 years ago by made a bid on the Tyrrell team, which he sponsored with his European Aviaton? What do
