Confirmed: Lopez to be first USF1 driver
November 21, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under People & Events, Top Story
As first reported at F1B earlier this week, Jose Maria Lopez will drive for the USF1 team in 2010 — if he can secure needed sponsorship dollars.
The Argentine Lopez has the news at his website — which is in Spanish, so the translation isn’t the best: “The trip was very positive, just need to specify the economic contributions, who are already committed.”
The website also has a lengthy interview with Peter Windsor confirming the engagement. Interestingly, I don’t see anything official yet out of USF1.
Here’s a quick translation of some of Windsor’s comments:
Until we sign a contract is not possible to give details about the negotiations … I can say that I have great respect for Jose Maria as a driver and person.
[snip]
But of all the drivers available, would put Jose Maria very high on the list of what we want. He’s very talented. For a new team, is a very good pilot is experienced but not too many preconceptions about how it should be a team … There are experienced pilots without spinning chair, but I’m not sure they can do a better job than Joseph … The teams for which they have handled different. I am confident that we can pilot team and grow together.
Reactions? He’s relatively unknown, it seems, outside of South America, though he did win the Italian Formula Renault championship in 2002. At least he’s from the Western Hemisphere. And if he brings USF1 sponsor money, that surely can’t hurt.
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This choice is in line with waht Peter said about wanting a driver with some F1 experience, but somebody who doesn’t have a preset notion on how the team should be ran, and a driver who really hasn’t got to show what he is capable of.
It’s not really in line with what he said about not going with a “pay driver.” He said in your interview here on F1blog last week that they had always planned to pay the drivers salaries, and not go with someobody because they bring in money. But I understand that money makes the world go round though, so maybe they had to go back on that choice.
I am wondering what South American sponsors he is bringing in? Get Peter back on the phone and do another interview…we need some hints on who the 2nd driver will be!
The article on autosport mentions that “Lopez has 70 per cent of the funding required to become the team’s first confirmed driver.”
I suppose Windsor had better get Roberto Moreno or Oriol Servia in line as a midseason “supersub” when Lopez’s funding doesn’t come through this summer. (Old Champ Car fans will be familiar with this scenario.)
If the first confirmed driver is a ride buyer it means that USF1 is short of sponsorship. If they had the proper funding they would hire a driver before opening up the bidding for the second seat.
I am a little confused by the selection if I’m honest. I understood that the reason no American driver was being looked at was a lack of a super license…fair enough but he also said they weren’t looking for a paying driver and the Autosport article sort of betrays that notion as Benalf says above. Odd choice.
Another problem with signing a ride buyer as your first driver is it sends a message to the world that your team is struggling financially. Coupled with all the media speculation about the viability of USF1, it gives the impression that they have a second-rate operation.
Worse, they give the impression that they have a Windsor-rate operation.
If confirmed its not an inspiring choice for fans or others looking to invest in the team. Especially with the drivers market being stuffed full of talent and F1 experience currently.
Maybe they just didn’t want a paying driver with a name and baggage associated with it, like Bruno Senna.
i never thought usf1 was a 1st rate team,they are a privateer team in a bad economy in a sport that burns cash,i do not blame them for getting a pay driver,being a 1st rate team is something they will have to work towards just like the other new teams
Gary Anderson was very pointed about his concern that USF1 would make it to grid in 2010. IF you haven’t listened to the interview, there are some very interesting points he makes.
Not listened to it yet but did read the write up, Gary (who I do have much respect for) seems to not put much credence in the abilities and technologies here in the good old USA. Having worked in Aerospace here since 1985, and been a huge follower of almost all aspects of racing and technology, I have no doubt that the resources are in this Country if someone knows how to tap them. All of Peter’s mentioned pluses for being over here are very true if they are properly put to use. Only time will tell if they are.
And his poo poo of Toyota in Germany, sorry but Germany ain’t that far from England, they don’t don’t share that much but more get in each others way probably, I think Toyota’s problem were more a management and too much I in team to really gel….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKPWkakqW8 — an interview with Peter Windsor and the Argentina media about Lopez, going to London to talk to another driver, and sponsorships.
Hello, im from argentina & u guys have no idea how talented Lopez is…today he just won the 2nd championship on this year & probably next weekend he might get the 3rd one. This championships are TC, TC2000 & TopRace v6….the main 3 cups in argentina. If he does it will be like some guy up there wining Kart, Nascar & Winston cup ALL THE SAME YEAR ! And another thing is that here in argentina is really hard to get money for racing so if the USF1 team wants him it wont be for the money (besides that they need money in order to race)…it will be cuz they know hes really good. I dont know if any of you saw a video where peter windsor tells that they were very impressed by him based on a telemetry database they have of a lot of drivers & Lopez was clearly a step ahead of the rest. To sum up….THEY WANT HIM, HES GREAT, IM FROM ARGENTINA, IM HIS FAN, & WAIT TO ENJOY HIM DRIVING IF THE CAR IS DECENT….GREAT RESULTS GUARANTED!