The bigger they are, the harder they fall

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Written by Kate Walker

Wednesday, 03 March 2010 19:02

Everything's bigger in America. Provided you live in a smaller country, that is.

The land of the free is known for super-sizing everything, from buildings to people, from friendliness to enthusiasm. I spent the best part of a decade living in the States, and while I was living there America seemed normal.

Going back there after a number of years in the UK felt very strange. The country I'd called home looked, smelled, and sounded the same, but it was different, almost awkward. I'd forgotten that American men will chat you up when you're walking down the street, and that strangers would hear my English accent and instantly try to befriend me. Shop assistants working on commission would ask intrusive questions in a bid to develop a personal connection and press for a sale.

People often accuse Americans of being pushy, and some are. But as a country, the knob on their enthusiasm dial has been glued to 11. Maybe it's an attempt to shout louder than everyone else, I'm not sure. But as a rule, Americans are raised not to hide their light under a bushel.

The philosophy works, when you've got something worth illuminating. Backing up one's claims of brilliance with actual proof is what separates confidence from arrogance, and while confidence can be intimidating to those who lack it, it can also inspire.

I will admit that I was a little inspired by USF1. I've been inspired – and impressed – by all the new teams. To build up a team, collect sponsors, and develop a race-ready car in what seems like 20 minutes is a serious undertaking. To do all that while suffering the slings and arrows of the world's media, ready to pounce on any sign of failure, shows serious cojones.

But what impressed me most about USF1 was the team's determination to make the job as hard as possible for themselves from the very get-go. Why launch an American F1 team when 99% (not a real statistic) of US motorsport fans are into NASCAR? Why base the team in the States when everyone else is based in Europe, and you'll have further to travel to tests and races? Why make every race a flyaway? Why announce that you'll be using American drivers when US racing talent doesn't seem to have much of an interest in F1?

The answer to all those questions – I assumed – was that the strength of determination and will to be found in the Charlotte headquarters was such that no obstacle was too great. Boy, was I wrong.

By now you will have read the news, widely reported elsewhere, that USF1 has effectively shut up shop for the 2010 season. Ken Anderson told Autosport: "We have applied to the FIA to hold our entry until 2011. ... We are waiting for a reply from the FIA and are working with them. In the mean time, there is nothing for the employees to do, so we have told them to stop working on the current car until we have a decision."

Reports from Charlotte have all pointed the finger of blame squarely at Anderson. In last week's report by a USF1 insider, Anderson was named as the bottleneck behind all of USF1's design and schedule delays. According to the anonymous team source, Anderson failed to approve designs on schedule, and when he was confronted about delays the issue was always resolved with the promise that 'Ken has a plan'. It looks like that plan was to end all hopes of a USF1 team in 2010, and to further besmirch the Formula 1 brand's already shaky US reputation.

So what does this all mean? Until the FIA make a decision on the US outfit's deferral application, it's all best guessing, I'm afraid. If the FIA agree to let USF1 race next year, then it looks like we'll only have 12 teams line up in Bahrain. Stefan GP could get a temporary slot on the grid in theory, but it seems unlikely. Either all teams would have to unanimously agree – and we all know how the Scuderia feel about Mike Coughlan – or the FIA would have to give a one-off temporary pass to the team, thereby setting a potentially dangerous precedent.

If the FIA decide that enough's enough, and remove USF1 entirely, then the options are pretty similar. They could open up a high-speed application process, but as Stefan GP would be the only applicants who could theoretically race in 10 days' time there would be all manner of complaints about the lack of fair process.

The fairest thing to do – I think – would be to open up applications now for the 13th 2011 grid slot, and accept that it's a 12-team competition this year. That would give Lola, Prodrive, Epsilon, et al. the chance to reapply and get a car together if chosen. If Stefan GP applied and got in, at least they too would have been through the application process, removing one arrow from Ferrari's sling.

But this isn't necessarily about what's fairest. The most sensible option is for USF1 to admit defeat and try and sell their entry while it still has some value. Stefan GP are the only team currently in a position to buy that entry and run a car in Bahrain, but USF1 don't seem to want to sell. Merger talks with the Serbian team were reported to have broken down last week, and there are stories circulating that the team bosses refused a number of offers as they were unwilling to save USF1 by losing some of their control.

So will the FIA take the decision to remove USF1 from the championship due to unpreparedness? Confirmation will come in the form of the official 2010 entry list, due to be published later today. It's not looking good for the Americans. Maybe they would have looked a bit more credible to sponsors if they'd kept some of their light under that proverbial bushel. As it is, USF1 will go into the F1 history books as the 'all talk, no action' outfit, one whose racing record was outstripped by MasterCard Lola.

Even the humiliation's bigger on the other side of the pond. Kate Walker for Girlracer Magazine http://www.girlracer.co.uk