Hispania Racing Team’s owner not happy with the sponsors
The 2010 Formula 1 season introduced three new teams to the Formula 1 grid that included Lotus Racing Team, Virgin Racing Team and Hispania Racing team. All three were unable to prove anything to the Formula 1 world but they managed to prove that they
have what it takes to continue and improve. As a result, the FIA decided to keep all three seasons for another year and it seems that the 2011 Formula 1 season will also have 12 teams on the grid.
Since all three of these teams were unable to score a single point, it is hard to expect that they are even going to challenge teams like Force India or Toro Rosso.
However, HRT owner Jose Ramon Carabante recently stated that the sponsors do not appreciate the true value of Formula 1. He believes that his team will improve and they should be judged on their long-term performance, not just one season’s performance.
According to Jose, Formula 1 is not about spending more money. Instead it is about sheer talent and performance.
“You can come in with one million or €500,000. You go to large companies in this country and tell them that with their support you can have the car of Toyota, the use of their facilities and be in the top eight from time to time but they don't support
you,” he said.
Jose stated sometime ago that the team is currently negotiating with some sponsors about a possible deal for the 2011 Formula 1 season. Many believe that it did not turn out well and as a result, the team owner is retaliating.
However, it seems that HRT is quite interested in Pedro de la Rosa, former Sauber driver who was forced to leave the team in the middle of the 2010 Formula 1 season. He was later on replaced by Nick Heidfeld.
HRT aims to improve and score some points in 2011 and they believe that they are going to stick around in the Formula 1 for a long time.
“The car is being made partly in Germany and partly in England and it will be ready. We have been working on it for some time and it will be in Bahrain for sure. This year was much more difficult. This time we will be in the winter tests,” said the
team’s owner.
However, he stated that the team was having some problems with the car as the Cosworth engine does not seem to work with the Toyota chassis. Their 2011 Formula 1 car will have a Williams gearbox and according Geoff Willis, the person who designed the
it, the car is going to give the team many joys.
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