VW Group F1 mumblings

[The Stiglet]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/30336569

[DanielSan]

Is that just a copy and paste of Audi entering F1 but replacing the word Audi with VAG?

And it still won't happen.

[simonrockman]

Nothing is straightforward. I'd suspect VW has no interest at all and someone is just trying to undermine Bernie.

[007 VXR]

I think it would be good, IF it ever happens...

[Doink]

And which brand would they choose, I could see it being Bentley or Bugatti quite easily, certainly not Skoda or Seat

[007 VXR]

Doink said:

And which brand would they choose, I could see it being Bentley or Bugatti quite easily, certainly not Skoda or Seat

Bugatti would be cool ?

[The Stiglet]

Doink said:

And which brand would they choose, I could see it being Bentley or Bugatti quite easily

Would love that, great PR story. But would they be able to justify the expenditure against new car sales compared to Audi, which could tap into the Auto Union history too? Can't see them using the VW brand, not sure about Porsche - does it even need F1 success to sell more cars?

[entropy]

I remember reading somewhere that Ross Brawn is rumoured to be working with VAG

[ayseven]

No real business person would go into F1 while the marketing managers (Bernie et al) get something like 51% of the revenues. Gimme more money or I won't come to play...

[Mark-C]

ayseven said:

No real business person would go into F1 while the marketing managers (Bernie et al) get something like 51% of the revenues. Gimme more money or I won't come to play...

Look at the numbers in the BBC article ... the VAG marketing boys and girls will be wetting themselves at the matrkeing value vs spend of being in F1 that Mercedes are suggesting.

Mind you .... I guess Toyota thought that too ;-)

[Blayney]

Gaz. said:

Well the R18 is due a replacement and it is unlikely that VAG can afford to design a R19 AND and F1 car so I'm sure we'll find out in due course...

According to wiki their profit was $9billion in 2013 alone. How much to make a championship winning F1 car? About 4 years with a total spend of $5billion maybe? So taking just over 10% of their profit. Ignoring the money back from F1 success.

It's not a question of if they can afford it - but whether there is sufficient return on the investment. They have so much market share now it must be difficult to make many gains.

[kambites]

Mark-C said:

Look at the numbers in the BBC article ... the VAG marketing boys and girls will be wetting themselves at the matrkeing value vs spend of being in F1 that Mercedes are suggesting.

Mind you .... I guess Toyota thought that too ;-)

That's the thing, isn't it? Mercedes are making an enormous amount out of it but that's because, due to a surprising amount of dedication and investment over a number of years and probably a significant amount of luck, they won. For VW's feasibility study, last season's Mercedes numbers would probably be more interesting.

[JB8]

I find it funny that Eddie Jordan and the BBC thinks VAG means 'Volkswagen Audi Group'.

[Henry Fiddleton]

Not this again..

VAG/Audi entering every couple of years.

They get free publicity from it.

Let me guess, they might buy Redbull.

[Europa1]

007 VXR said:

Doink said:

And which brand would they choose, I could see it being Bentley or Bugatti quite easily, certainly not Skoda or Seat

Bugatti would be cool ?

Bugatti would indeed be cool. However, as F1 is as much a marketing exercise as a sporting or technological one for the manufacturers, I'm not sure the Bugatti name would achieve sufficient recognition of VAG amongst the wider public.

[kambites]

I think they should use the Skoda brand just because it would be amusing seeing Skodas beating Ferraris.

[Mr_Yogi]

Or how about a Porsche or Lambo engine powering a VW or Audi?

[McClure]

It would have to be Lamborghini if that brand has any chance of competing with Ferrari & McLaren. They've already been left way behind the P1 and TheFerrari.

[TonyToniTone]

JB8 said:

I find it funny that Eddie Jordan and the BBC thinks VAG means 'Volkswagen Audi Group'.

Apparently it doesn't mean anything..


From the late 1970s to 1992, the acronym V.A.G was used by Volkswagen AG as a brand for group-wide activities, such as distribution and leasing. Contrary to popular belief, "V.A.G" had no official meaning, and was never the name of the Volkswagen Group.[20]

[20] http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009/05/vwporsche...

[//j17]

TonyToniTone said:

JB8 said:

...Eddie Jordan and the BBC thinks VAG means 'Volkswagen Audi Group'.

Apparently it doesn't mean anything..

From the late 1970s to 1992, the acronym V.A.G was used by Volkswagen AG as a brand for group-wide activities, such as distribution and leasing. Contrary to popular belief, "V.A.G" had no official meaning...

Not sure I buy that 100%, what with "AG" after a German company name being a standard abbreviation for Aktiengesellschaft, or in English Corporation. An amazing coincidence that the German Volkswagen corporation (Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft or Volkswagen AG, or VAG for short) just happened to put the letters "AG" after the first letter of their company name.