The Caterham F1 Team is trying to relaunch using crowd funding. Anyone willing to invest can go to www.crowdcube.com/caterham and pledge money. The administrator Finbarr O’Connell says that supporters will receive unique rewards, including a once in a lifetime opportunity to get your name on the Caterham F1 car competing in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The opportunity to support Caterham F1’s return to the grid will close when it reaches its £2.350m funding target or on Friday 14 November, whichever is sooner.
“We are working non-stop to get the Caterham F1 Team back racing, initially in Abu Dhabi, but hopefully that will be just a stepping stone to get it back racing on a permanent basis, under new ownership,” said O’Connell. “In order to achieve that one of our most useful, innovative and effective options right now is crowdfunding. We want to get as many sponsors and fans as possible involved this week and make our comeback something we can all be part of. This team deserves a future and I’m sure that there are plenty of fans and companies out there that agree with us.”
Unless there are some pretty big donations coming in (perhaps from those who want to keep the team alive) it is highly unlikely that this is going to succeed. Fans can pledge from £1 and the scheme has already raised £105,000. Having said that this is only 4 percent of what is required.
joeblogsf1 
And have they considered how they are going to fit 235,000 names on the car!
Er Joe it costs £1,000.00 for your name on the car not £10.00
Chris
It’s £990 cheaper to change your name by deed poll to ‘Red Bull’ , and your name is on twice as many cars.
That’s exactly what Bernie said he didn’t want: teams passing the bucket…
>>That’s exactly what Bernie said he didn’t want: teams passing the bucket…<<
Ahhh but it is a electronic bucket with the virtual handle held by a very nice administrator who is obliged by law to try anything he can to keep the business going…. or at least make sure his bills are paid until he closes the door for the last time. But unlike the real bucket, this crowd sourced bucket gets you something in return a car at a race and some form of recognition.
One hope that Bernie finds the web bucket as deeply distasteful and embarrassing as a good old galvanized bucket going through the pits for a whip round, so he will make some changes and quick, and not simply retreat to his palatial ivory tower for the winter hoping it has all gone away before testing starts in the spring.
If Bernie, and others, don’t want to see virtual or actual buckets passed around there is any easy solution.
And I don’t mean an emergency rule change either.
Where does this money go if they don’t race and fold for good?
What happens with your money if you pay and they don’t go?
I have no idea
Most crowd funding sites/operators specify that unless the target is reached your ‘pledge’ is not charged. It’s usually held against your card or PayPal account until the goal is reached and then released.
Not always though (e.g. the current Project Brabham effort). Read the small print!
Ah yes – but the crowd cube TOS do seem to be similar to the kickstarter model
Depends on whether they reach the goal or not. If they do, then the money will be invested. If the goal is not reached within the set time, no money will be deducted from your account. https://www.crowdcube.com/pg/crowdcube-faq-20#collapse65
Absolutely no chance that they’ll raise that amount!
With apologies to Dragons Den; “I’m out!”
Do you see, Joe, why I’ve likened watching F1 to admiring a still life of decay? Like a work by Soutine, not that Bernie would know it.
Well Joe, seeing as GP+ had its name on the car I’d say you owe them a few coppers! 🙂
Bet David Brabham is gnashing his teeth though…
I guess they have to try anything to keep the team out of default with FOM (and alive into the winter), but it does seem a slim chance. How much cash did Rubens (allegedly) have to spend this weekend? Is there a well healed pay driver knocking around?
I’m missing something! What’s the Barrichello reference?
He was going to drive the car in Brazil.
Apparently Ruebens was due to drive for them for the final 3 races as a belated (and well paying) farewell to F1…
I did not know that. Would have been a bit sad really, seeing him pay to drive.
Does this mean Toro Rosso are keeping JEV next year? Carlos Sainz Jr was reputed to be in line for a debut with Caterham earlier in the summer so why not now? Red Bull also paid for Gasly to drive for Caterham in GP2. An early start with a similar no hoper did the world of good for Daniel Ricciardo.
Mr. Ecclestone, time to back up your B.S. with action! Write them an anonymous check, or publicly, if you want/need the attention.
So, Bernie. £2M’s like small change isn’t it? You’ll probably get most of it back too…
Brabham has raised $244,540 after 6 weeks of fundraising. I struggle to see how Caterham are going to raise 10 times that amount in 1/6th the time.
135 teams have come and left F1 in its 65 year history. Marussia makes it 136 and I’d say we will be at 137 before the end of the year.
Because this comes with instant gratification and a publicity storm. If I had a business with any relevancy to F1 (which I will soon as it involves turbo tech) 2,000 GBP might not be a bad value for having your brand on there. It would probably generate well beyond $2,000 in social media engagement alone if properly done. It seems like none of these logos would actually be on the car during the race itself or did I miss a big bolded line.
This is actually a very good idea. I think they’ll reach their target, specially with the media coverage it’s goint to get. 2K for a company’s logo in a F1 car, for one race weekend, isn’t that much. One can use pictures of that for months in promotional material. Do you think they would allow people who buy that option to call themselves Caterham F1 team sponsor?
Given the number of 2k’s they need, you’ll need a microscope to make out the Logo when the car is stationery. When it’s whizzing around the track you have no chance of seeing it.
I don’t think many companies want ot be associated with a sports team who’s primary claim to fame is it’s financial impecunity.
£1 – £39 falls under the ‘I just want to donate’ category –
With no ‘reward’.
Er . . . I think I’ll give it a miss.
Stingy bastard that I am.
Mind you, when the overall total stood at £107, 213 (16.10, GMT, Friday) –
From 69 backers . . .
The total for ‘rewards’ amounted to £6, 880 –
From 36 backers.
Leaving the balance of £100, 333 contributed by 33 backers . . .
Under that ‘I just want to donate’ category.
They’ve added new rewards starting from a fiver. For example, there’s a bag for a tenner. They also have wheelnuts for £75 and dinner with a driver for £550 which are tempting.
Thanks for update but –
If I was in the market for junk . . .
I’d get better value at the local car-boot sale.
£550 for dinner with a driver? Driver of what? The parts truck?
It says dinner with an F1 driver.
If it’s Kamui he seems like he might be fun to hang out with, and if it’s Marcus you’d be able to beat him to the buffet, and possibly lap him when going for seconds.
The mystery continues. I’ve added up the purchasers of “stuff” on the site and its at this moment 4pm on Friday its 50 purchasers of items making £9000 of £108000 pledged. Pledged, not paid. So the remaining supporters 50ish, have paid an average of £2000 each but want no reward. Hmmm. I’d suggest someone has pledged £90k,100k or something. Where would these incoming pledges leave the creditors? Nice cool idea, I love crowd funding… But this just isn’t going to happen I fear.
There was one change from about 5k to 105k within 15-18 pledges, most likely someone put in 100k. Later it jumped up by about 300k in one step too to get it from almost 700k to over a million this morning between 9:00 and 11.
So its defenitely a couple of big chunks that got it up this far (almost 1.070k)
Hi Joe, not to keen on this. Now with the sad news that Marussia / Manor are no more if Caterham race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix they will finish 10th in the standings at worst. In one of your earlier posts you were reporting they have debts of around $25 million would it not be in Tony Fernandes interest’s to take the team back as this would allow him to pay off the debts at the end of the season and as there will only be ten teams next year it would give him a team that is worth something to sale?
I don’t believe this ! So people are being asked to stump up cash to get a failed F1 team to the last Grand Prix.
Hello, all pigs fuelled up and ready for take off !
Tacky.
Not quite the image Ecclestone has spent a lifetime cultivating, so maybe it´s a nice payback.
It may be not the image he was trying to cultivate but everyone I know has singularly low opinion of BE, fans of the sport or not. Agreed it’s tacky but BE has never been one to care very much either, so long as the cash keeps rolling in. Probably to know him is to love him…?!
They are relying on some wealthy folk investing there. Of the 2.35mil target, it looks like only around the .35 is covered by the logos etc on the car..
They should target rich businessmen like Tony Fernandes who will be keen to use F1 to promote their businesses…. oh, wait….
Would suggest administrators Smith and Williamson to invest 1M for a sticker and so put their name on a green car. That would push us crowd to be doing the same . If they will not reach 2.3M they will get money back and at list someone will beleive them they are sincerely sorry for the people, when they will be made redundand, if affair fails.
Caterham now renamed ‘Team Desperate’.
How much is the administrator raking off on this?
Nice thought, but sticking plaster comes to mind
I know you’re very busy this weekend trying to earning living but, although not directly under this topic, how to do feel about Jenson’s situation at the moment? He seems to have been badly treated by Mclaren – why on earth Ferrari haven’t taken on I don’t know. Just interested in your take – cheers.
I don’t think he has much of an F1 future
Not aware of if you’re a fan of JB or not Joe but I can assume you think it’s a bit detrimental to the sport to have Jenson out on his ear while far less deserving drivers are clinging on to seats?
He’s no reincarnation of Senna but he’s certainly been a good ambassador for the sport…
Jenson has had 14 years in the sport. That’s a pretty good innings
I think you’re right unfortunately, although I notice he’s won a little support from Lewis this week. Looking at the ‘top’ drivers now I’m sure he won’t be the last to collect his P45 in the near future.
Frankly, for the last few years, I’ve thought he was a bit of a whiner (correction, quite a whiner) from his radio messages. It’s past time he was gone.
More of a whiner than Massa? Certainly more than Kimi – but then he’s doing a lot better than Kimi…
But yes 14 years is a good innings – it just makes me a little sad that the F1 field seems to be retaining deadweight and jettisoning some of the better drivers. A world where Marcus Erricson keeps a drive with a new team but Jenson Button is unceremoniously dumped has to be at least a preshock of the apocalypse…
I suspect Button would have a contract if he were willing to drive for a lesser team or be paid a lesser amount. I quite like Button too, but times change. Plenty of good drivers with a lot still to offer in F1 have been forced out before they were ready in the past; Button is just the latest.
Hmm maybe some billionaire thinks they can get a super licence really fast and wants a spin round Abu Dhabi as the ultimate gift weekend package – barring that, can’t see it happening…
Joe; your title sums it up perfectly for me…….’and so, we have come to this’……… Enough said.
What a joke. Talk about short-term thinking. It’s sad and pathetic.
Actually, Finbarr O’Connell has just about as much experience of F1 as Marco Matticacci ;_)
I think brain power is important
Agree with Will Buxton on Twitter. F1 is a business. Give it to charity instead.
I had a charity knock on my door last night to help with the outbreak of Ebola. A worthy cause. For Caterham to ask for money is embarrassing and appalling and I hope it doesn’t succeed. Waste of time.
+1
Smacks of “Throw your money away with us”
Yes let’s all go to work and donate so the BILLIONAIRE’S have a bigger field to play in…..
The tittle of your article says it all.
I’m one of those who donated £10.00 and although it looks to be pie in the sky at least someone is doing something to get a fuller grid than last week. In reply to Paddy, it isn’t Caterham who are being appalling and embarrassing themselves by asking for donations, it is the administrator who, unlike many, looks as though he’s doing his best to get the team onto the grid in Abu Dhabi. If this action isn’t successful then I’ll donate the £10 to Help for Heroes.
Well, let’s see. We already know they’re desperate. That shouldn’t be a surprise. So don’t knock it until we know how it turns out.
I have to say there’s a lot of cynicism on display here (and I’m usually of a farily cynical frame of mind myself). So people want to give some of their cash, voluntarily, to help achieve a 20-car grid at Abu Dhabi? It’s their money. Okay, so it’s only a stop-gap for the team. Maybe it only means they get to bow out in style. But good luck to them.
Having said that, according to the Crowdcube site the most that’s ever been raised there is about £1.5m. So, yes, it’s pretty, er… ambitious.
Crikey. Some harsh comments from my fellow Sawardites.
I commend the team for giving it a shot. It’s inventive and it might just mean a few more months salary for a couple hundred people who are set for an uncertain Christmas this year. Perhaps those few months will be enough to arrange a sale so they don’t have to wind up fully.
My fingers are crossed and I will chip in a few quid.
Reminds me of when Justin Wilson sold shares in himself to raise capital. I admire those who give it a shot.
@Paddy – that’s rubbish – you can always argue there are more deserving causes – cancer kills more than ebola – so would you stop giving money to prevent ebola until cancer was cured? I hope they do make it. I think they will. Already over 13% from just 550 backers (make that +1). So they probably need around 5 or 6000 backers. That’s easily achievable with a passionate, if slightly romantic and illogical bunch like us F1 fans.
Wasn’t BRM in part supported by public subscription?
I’m just reading Raymond Mays’ book about the period so numbers are fresh in my mind. These are Raymond Mays’ numbers, of course.
The BRM racing trust was established using money from the motor trade, with two £5,000 donations from the Rubery Owen company and Lucas as seed capital. When the cars first raced, about £50,000 had been spent plus donations in kind from trade sponsors. To give an idea of a single trade commitment, the V16 engine consumed about a hundred spark plugs over a racing weekend.
A F Rivers-Fletcher had established a supporters’ club for ERA in the 1930s and repeated this for BRM. Supporters paid a nominal membership fee and for the first year or so the BRM trust gave the club a grant. A couple of years later, the supporters’ club paid back the grant with a contribution of several thousand pounds. All of this applies to the V16 era.
When the world championship regs changed from F1 to F2, the V16 design had little opportunity to race. Eventually, the BRM racing trust was taken over by the Owen Racing Organisation, to be run on a more business-like basis.
BRM weren’t funded by public subscription in the manner of a war memorial fund, but for a brief period the supporters’ club made a donation.
Thanks for the info, I seem to remember that coins were thrown into the cars cockpit after one disappointing display according to the history books.
Hi Joe,
isn’t this the kind of joined up thinking you were looking for from Finbarr O’Connell? I think the administrators should be congratulated for a s**t or bust attitude in the absence of any serious backer. Presumably, Finbarr O’Connell have also stumped up for next years entry based on the fact the the business is worthless without it? If so, again, bit of joined up thinking. It is desperate I agree, but at least they’re trying. Or have I missed something? In any case, I’ve donated £5 to get them on their way. Here’s hoping.
I see it as a desperate measure that will not succeed
Yes Joe…………..
OK I tend to agree…too big a mountain to climb in too little time, but I’ve always believed it better to do something than nothing, even if the chances are slim. Are there any other avenues open which might get them onto the grid for the last race and maintain any value in the business?
And at the other end of the scale McLaren are “reported” to be negotiating with Alonso at around $88m for two years…….. and that will probably end in tears.
Given the lack of a title sponsor at McLaren, is it too cheeky to ask who’s paying whom that $88M?
Santander?
Honda aren’t just making the engines….
Hmm good point made there. Ebola relief £5 to save some lives or same to see if Caterham can limp on in the hands of the Adminstrator. Tbh I’m not sure this is even really appropriate for a crowd funding site.
Is it really that different to Williams being floated?
IMHO you’d have to be a fool to invest in an F1 team if you expect financial reward, their aim is not to make money.
But crowd sourcing is a funny thing, people seem willing to throw money at it – so if it became the flavour of the month it might actually be more successful than the William float.
I highly doubt they will become the next Star Citizen to raise $60 mil, but given they’ve already raised £310,471, they may just pull this off and it becomes an ingenious move from the administrators.
Well, it depends, doesn’t it? If they change the rules the shares will skyrocket in value overnight
Well I’ve just given 500 for overalls , if it work I will get framed and will look great on the wall , if they don’t make the total I’ve not lost anything , so worth it, help the team and get something in return.
Any chance of one Caterham doing a Keegan/Senna at the first corner to both the Saubers in the hope that the other might score points?
Appalled by Cristian Horner’s attitude, must be easy to be lofty when you’re Principal of Red Bull. If Caterham was your team wouldn’t you do everything you could to keep it afloat?
No, I agree with him, it’s absolutely indefensible to see the sport reduced to this.
The only thing I disagree with him about, is that he blames the teams, and I blame him and a few others for colluding with FOM to ensure that it becomes necessary. I see his behaviour as utterly despicable. The administrators are doing a great job with the hand that they’ve been played, and anyone in a position of power who doesn’t like it should have seen the writing on the wall and bought them off with a quiet word and a small (by F1 standards) cheque by now.
I too am disappointed by his attitude. He keeps saying that it isn’t the big teams job to ‘sponsor’ the small teams. But it’s a silly statement when arguably his team should never been awarded those special bonus payments anyway. It should have always been divided equally between the teams providing the foundation for bigger and stronger competition for them to beat and look even better. Ironically the small teams end up being sacrificed so that the big teams can be greedy.
Ferrari’s ‘historical’ payment is ridiculous. It’s the attitude that F1 somehow owes them a debt of gratitude because they’re the only team who have been there since the beginning. But it’s F1 which has given Ferrari the platform to become the legend that they think they are. Shouldn’t they be embarrassed that despite getting more money from F1 than any other team that they’re still not winning?
When you consider just how little in comparison Caterham and Marussia have had to work on, they’ve actually done a remarkable job to produce cars that are only two to four seconds off the pace. In some eras that would have put them on the third and fourth rows of the grid.
CH has the same attitude as Ron Dennis in 2003 (I think): F1 is not a soup kitchen. The press articles regarding Force India’s position highlight again that F1 teams are not run as “normal” businesses, in that they throw everything at trying to be as fast as possible without paying due attention to survival.
Arrows were mocked for never winning, but they stayed in business for 18 years before TWR changed the approach and put them out of business 6 yrs later (also taking the successful TWR consultancy with them). The “fast paced world of F1” seems incompatible with basic accountancy..
Red Bull may be creditors of Caterham since they supply grarboxes and other bits I believe. This may influence Horner’s view.
I’m too young to be sounding this old-fashioned, but I’ve never liked the cut of Horner’s jib. His clean cut image jibes with his true MO. Though, much of his MO is dictated for him.
If my $25 helps keep the employees working and gives them a chance to find a buyer then it is money well spent. I have certainly put out money, many times, for far less worthwhile reasons.
A sad commentary on all involved with Caterham. Fernandez, CVC, BE, FOM, FIA, et al.
Fun fact from James Allen: crows cube are a client and partner of smith & Williamson. So this could be interpreted as using of caterham to promote their own interests
I didn’t know this. Alarm bells. This morning unless my memory decieves me they have dropped back from 14% funded to 13%, my experience of crowd funding and sponsorship tells me that after the weekend the impetus for this will be gone. They need to be at 60-70% by now. I did wonder how they got this through given they are in Administration – Kickstarter wouldn’t have allowed this.
I’m also concerned, and I’m not an expert, that money in this scheme aimed just at the immediate cost of going to the last GP could create preferential payments to creditors, although I’m sure the Adminstrators are doing everything legally and properly before anyone sues me.
Isn’t that what marketing types call “synergy”? F1 sponsorship deals live and die on business to business, which Sauber tried with their “Club 1” idea.
I am coming round to the crowdfunding idea, but I can’t really see the difference between it and a venture capital trust, the rules of which have been in operation for decades. The crowdfunding just seems more accessible to the general public.
Oooops!
Typo should be crowdcube
So at the current rate
– Each person had donated an average of $450 (£427,792/952 backers)
– 18% towards target with 6 days to go (Was 4 percent when Joe posted the article, was 13% this morning)
– Expect a peak around qualifying and race, especially if it is mentioned in commentary
– Expect a big drop off on Monday
– It could be neck and neck in 6 days.
My guess – They will get 1.5 – 2mil – but not their target
And that changed rapidly in the time for this post to be moderated
£511,213 Raised
1080 Backers
Almost 100000 within one hour gives hope this might just work
I mean ” a few hours” – lost track of time
administrators Tend to end up with a rather large slice of any whatever pie is left and legally I belive theyre gaurenteed to get it above any other creditors. Just a thought that what’s to prevent most of this money going to S and W anyway in fees.
.
Hi Joe , as Caterham very kindly advertised your Online magazine on their rear wing for free will you be donating ? – as I write the fund stands at just a shade over half a million with just over six days to go…….and yes , I have made a donation.
Some people go through life telling everyone what they do with their money. Some do not.
Agree with you Joe. It seemed to ramp up in 1985 with the rude demand from the obnoxious Mr. Geldof and his mates
I think the Caterham team publicly should make it clear what will happen with the money if they don´t make it to the grid again, otherwise there is the unspoken possibilty that the funded money will just end up feeding the administrator or the taxman instead of nurturing Caterham 2.0. Subconscious, every person interested in funding will think about that and it could harm the success of this operation. If my money will be gone I will think twice, if it will be refunded maybe not. Otherwise many could shrink from funding.
Money will only be taken if the target is met – if the target is not reached, money is not taken from donors.
Unfortunately for the employees, IMHO this is a short-term gimmick, not a med-long term credible investment/rescue plan. They are trying to capitalise on people’s emotion.
So essentially donating money for some wealthy person to make more money?
Seems legit.
It is not that simple.
I’m not sure why people are knocking this plan. If the team don’t get to Abu Dhabi it’s all over for them. If they get there at least they have a few extra weeks to find a buyer. In fact it may help in finding one – if the money is raised it means they are a very popular team so more attention will be paid to them, therefore more sponsorship exposure. Plus, imagine if they make it and finish 9th in the race, therefore getting a massive influx of cash. That will likely save the team and everyone who contributed can proudly say they have saved a lot of UK based jobs. I know it’s unlikely but never say never…
It is interesting that the Yorkshire Post’s article on Manor ceasing trading mentioned that the lack of a cost cap was a deciding factor in their lack of rescue.
If there was a benevolent billionaire (or 2) out there looking for an F1 team, they would have got in touch by now – another site is reporting that S&W ignored contact from 1 party. It becomes more interesting when “flat pack” administration is a possibility or parties with a 2015 entry and no kit get involved.
However, as an average punter, I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind would get involved with F1 just now.
Adam Parr’s twitter prophecy that F1 will not be the same again is ringing more true by the race.
sorry, “pre-pack” admin…
which means we’ve gone past that point and I’m wrong.
F1 cannot agree to run third cars. It is is impossible.
I completely agree. I think it’s a great idea and shows to any potential buyer how popular the team are. It gets the staff paid for a few more weeks and that can’t be a bad thing in anyone’s book. They’ve passed the million mark today and with a bit more exposure on the main race coverage they could make it or even surpass their goal. It’s about time someone properly harnessed the power of the Internet to bring the fans in to F1 properly so more power to them I say!
I did think Marcus Ericsson was a complete tool on Sky’s F1 coverage when Ted Kravitz asked if Marcus was going to chip in to the crowdfund and he said no. Ted even pointed out the it could mean he’d be driving in a couple of weeks but it seems Marcus is firmly out of the door.
“It’s not dead but I can smell something bad”.
It’s intere that the accountants to CrowdCube are none other than Smith & Williamson, who are, of course the administrators for Caterham.
Surely this couldn’t just be another publicity stunt, eight he aim of generating revenue for CrowdCube? Or am I just too cynical?
http://www.nexiasmith.williamson.co.uk/news/alternative-funding-platform-crowdcube-appoints-smith-williamson-accountancy-and-tax
* interesting
Sorry to sound so negative but some of the items received in exchange for donating are essentially merchandise that can be purchased in the Caterham store… this merchandise will have zero value if the team goes under.
Could this be a case of the administrator:
A) Selling off merchandise before it becomes worthless
B) Promoting a company he is involved in (as many have already said)
I don’t mean to sound synical but it feels like he is using Caterham for his own personal gain.
Also, has anyone seen how poorly the Caterham crowdcube site is written?
Writing “Rash Tests” instead of “Crash Tests”, not to mention an abundance of grammatical errors… it looks incredibly unprofessional.
I know, I’m being picky, but it gives off the wrong message.
Of course it has come to this! Everything in the garden is not beautiful. Time to take off the rose-tinted spectacles.
McLaren can’t find a sponsor. The tiddlers are going bust.
The Caterham administrator has a duty to do everything in his power to rescue the company. I’d say he is playing a dreadful hand rather well. The fact that everyone is still talking about a rescue vindicates his approach. For the sake of the employees and small creditors (HMRC etc excepted) we’d better hope he succeeds.
44% there with over a million pledged; someone must have stuck in a big wedge this morning. Maybe they might make it after all!
Evolution. Perhaps this is more a reflection of our time? Much has been discussed as to how F1 can best embrace our internet age and yet we are surprised by this endeavor. Without knowing the true intent of the administrator (attempt at salvaging the value for resale or a chance to experience the F1 circus up close, however briefly) I cannot decide if this is good or bad.
This does indicate, at least to me, just how difficult the co-existence of the sporting side and the business side of F1 has become. Desperate times leading to desperate measures.
Here’s hoping they find an amicable long term solution before the business side consumes the sporting side.
What’s the difference between hawking around for sponsorship, and crowd sourcing. It seems that Bernie, and the big teams, should be more embarrassed by the situation rather than the method. Get rid of the small teams, and there is still a position called last place.
Crowd funding shouldn’t be laughed at completely for any sport. Crowd funding helped get Kamui get his seat. I think I threw in ten bucks just for kicks. With the size of the world today, 1m fans kicking in 20 each for a great driver who needs to bring money = a win for him and a win for the fans and yes a little bit of a bad taste it had to be done that way.
We’re in… What’s not to like about this? The fans are excited, it keeps interest in the team going between races and you receive value back for your support. Win, win win! As opposed to the cynicism and endemic negativity at hand in F1. Looking forward to cheering Caterham on in Abu Dhabi.
So shall I buy you a bit of Caterham for your birthday? P xx
You have missed it