Wise heads in the paddock are far less sure. There is also bewilderment at
what the long-term future of the team is, even if they do make it to Abu
Dhabi for the race on November 23. Bernie Ecclestone, F1’s supremo, said on
Thursday: “The question if they get to Abu Dhabi is whether they will have
enough money to come home. I have been talking to the administrator
regularly. If they get to Abu Dhabi, they are in the championship.”
O’Connell has seemingly been offering the two drivers’ seats up for auction to
the highest bidder, first with Alice Powell, the 21-year-old from Chipping
Norton, in the frame, before Jolyon Palmer, the GP2 champion, entered the
fray.
Eyebrows were also raised after it emerged that the company used to organise
the crowdfunding, Crowdcube, is a client of the administrators. Caterham
have been offering everything from old front wings, to race overalls, even
dinner with one of their drivers – whoever they may be – in Abu Dhabi.
The project has divided opinion in the sport, amid an angry atmosphere over
the demise of Caterham and Marussia. Gérard Lopez, the Lotus owner, said:
“It’s a one-off [the crowdfunding] and I think it’s sad. If you think about
what it’s being used for. Formula 1, which is a $1.6billion business, and
distributes over $900million, and we’re being asked if crowdfunding is a
good idea to bring a team back. Seriously? Then it’s even more disastrous
than I think it is, in terms of ethics.”