Flavio's Kimi Giveaway...

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Flavio Briatore has admitted that Renault came close to signing Kimi Raikkonen before the Finn finally opted to sign for Ferrari.

The 26-year-old is expected to be announced as part of Ferrari

[Ctrl300 0]

How did he expect the team to pay two of the highet retainers on the grid with one of the lowest budgets of the big teams?

[pumpdoc 2]

How did he expect the team to pay two of the highet retainers on the grid with one of the lowest budgets of the big teams?

Magic money???

[Ctrl300 0]

Magic money???

And you thought I smoket crack, imagine Flav

[cavallino 2]

"Sure, for me the dream was to have Fernando and Kimi," said Briatore. "But what is not possible is not possible.

He says it's his dream, not that it was possible. There's a more detailed report on autosport, he basically says Kimi's signed for Ferrari.

[stopkidding 0]

How did he expect the team to pay two of the highet retainers on the grid with one of the lowest budgets of the big teams?

Renault's budget is by no means paltry. It might not be the highest, but the difference in spending between the top teams is very insignificant. BMW are the current toppers with Renault Ferrari, Toyota and Mclaren not far behind. Refer to F1 Racing magazine 2 months back for the exact numbers...

[Raikkonen_Zn 0]

Are renault deliberately trying to sabotage Ferrari's massive Sunday afternoon PR party? Hehe, anyway it would've been great to see Flavio's dream pair in the Renault's, it would've been something different, something very few would have thought about.

Oh and hello peeps, i'm new here though i'm sure you guys have already figured that out

[Ctrl300 0]

Renault's budget is by no means paltry. It might not be the highest, but the difference in spending between the top teams is very insignificant. BMW are the current toppers with Renault Ferrari, Toyota and Mclaren not far behind. Refer to F1 Racing magazine 2 months back for the exact numbers...

As I find this highly unlikely I would appreciate a source for this.

Are renault deliberately trying to sabotage Ferrari's massive Sunday afternoon PR party? Hehe, anyway it would've been great to see Flavio's dream pair in the Renault's, it would've been something different, something very few would have thought about.

Oh and hello peeps, i'm new here though i'm sure you guys have already figured that out

Hey, welcome to the Forum!

[Autumnpuma 0]

Renault's budget is by no means paltry. It might not be the highest, but the difference in spending between the top teams is very insignificant. BMW are the current toppers with Renault Ferrari, Toyota and Mclaren not far behind. Refer to F1 Racing magazine 2 months back for the exact numbers...

I don't have that issue but a quick search of the Almighty Google brings up this list:

The spending per team is as follows:

* McLaren Mercedes: $400M

* Toyota: $393M

* Honda : $382M

* BMW Sauber: $378M

* Ferrari: $329M

* Renault: $300M

* Red Bull Racing: $201M

* Williams: $134

* Super Aguri: $95M

* Midland F1: $76M

* Scuderia Toro Rosso: $66M

Disclaimer: The source was BusinessF1...which is sometimes not reliable. If anyone has better numbers and a more credible source, please post it.

[Ctrl300 0]

I don't have that issue but a quick search of the Almighty Google brings up this list:

The spending per team is as follows:

* McLaren Mercedes: $400M

* Toyota: $393M

* Honda : $382M

* BMW Sauber: $378M

* Ferrari: $329M

* Renault: $300M

* Red Bull Racing: $201M

* Williams: $134

* Super Aguri: $95M

* Midland F1: $76M

* Scuderia Toro Rosso: $66M

Disclaimer: The source was BusinessF1...which is sometimes not reliable. If anyone has better numbers and a more credible source, please post it.

Thanks for that Mike. I knew something was not right with the list provided by stopkidding as I remember Renault beng quite some behind the big boys.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Are renault deliberately trying to sabotage Ferrari's massive Sunday afternoon PR party? Hehe, anyway it would've been great to see Flavio's dream pair in the Renault's, it would've been something different, something very few would have thought about.

Oh and hello peeps, i'm new here though i'm sure you guys have already figured that out

Yay, another Raikkonen fan...

Welcome welcome ,....friend

[Chris Strange 0]

"Sure, for me the dream was to have Fernando and Kimi," said Briatore. "But what is not possible is not possible.

He says it's his dream, not that it was possible. There's a more detailed report on autosport, he basically says Kimi's signed for Ferrari.

From his dream to reality...... I don't think Renault will go far next year with this weak driver line up.. Fisi is hardly a good second driver and HK is a big question mark.

[Raikkonen_Zn 0]

Yay, another Raikkonen fan...

Welcome welcome ,....friend biggrin.gif

Hey, welcome to the Forum!

Haha, yes it is another Raikkonen fan, lol, thanks for the welcomes. I'm not entirely a stranger to the forums though, i have been following it for about a month and a half until i was eventually swayed to join by the endless "Who is the greatest of all time" discussions and continuous bickering and personal attacks. LOL. No seriously this place seems to be great.

[cavallino 2]

I am always surprised that most people who join say they've been reading the forum for a while - it makes all the trouble seem worthwhile

and welcome to the Ferrari club

[c21 0]

I don't have that issue but a quick search of the Almighty Google brings up this list:

The spending per team is as follows:

* McLaren Mercedes: $400M

* Toyota: $393M

* Honda : $382M

* BMW Sauber: $378M

* Ferrari: $329M

* Renault: $300M

* Red Bull Racing: $201M

* Williams: $134

* Super Aguri: $95M

* Midland F1: $76M

* Scuderia Toro Rosso: $66M

Disclaimer: The source was BusinessF1...which is sometimes not reliable. If anyone has better numbers and a more credible source, please post it.

Dont forget that alot of the BMW budget is to bring Sauber up to top team spec at home. New factory etc...

Not so much as you think goes to the track.

[Ctrl300 0]

Dont forget that alot of the BMW budget is to bring Sauber up to top team spec at home. New factory etc...

Not so much as you think goes to the track.

Facilities and equipment etc will not be financed through equity, rather a loan and then be written of gradually over time. I think the fugures would reflect the BMW budget quite accurately.

[c21 0]

Facilities and equipment etc will not be financed through equity, rather a loan and then be written of gradually over time. I think the fugures would reflect the BMW budget quite accurately.

Perhaps, but that makes me wonder where the money goes, I guess its more on r&d and engine.

[stopkidding 0]

Perhaps, but that makes me wonder where the money goes, I guess its more on r&d and engine.

and those hot bitches in the pit

The numbers I pulled out were over the top of my rusty old head. I am sure Puma's numbers are more accurate. Even at that, the difference between budgets of McLaren ($400M) and fourth place BMW($378) is almost non existant at those spending levels and is easily absorbed company culture, facility costs and cost of champagne and caviar in the motorhomes. What is surprising Ferrari and Renault seem to be much lower than I anticipated.

Here are some other interesting figures, This time I am quoting F1 Racing June 2006.

Top Sponsor Incomes

---------------------------

1) Ferrari - $222M

2) Mclaren - $140M

3) Renault - $136M

4) BMW - $102M

5) Williams - $83M

6) Honda - $66M

7) Toyota - $62.5M

8) Super Aguri - $57M

9) $Midland - $43M

10) RedBull - $0*

11) Toro Rosso -$0*

Interesting to Note that Ferrari are probably the best in the F1 Business, IF you compare the budget numbers puma posted and the money they make from merchandising (I am sure Ferrari make more than rest of the teams combined with their $50 caps) and the monet they get from Bernie, I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari F1 operation is completely self sustaining or if it evens makes a modest profit.

Red Bull and Toro Rosso have so much money that they don't dilute the brand image by adding names of otehr companies. They have no sponsors other than the parent company. I guess with the RedBull teams, its people like you and me who sponsor by buying those ridiculous $4 sugar water cans!