Alex Wurz on Friday announced that he will not be making an F1 return with the new USF1 team.
Earlier this year, the Austrian driver as well as USF1's sporting director Peter Windsor confirmed they were in contact regarding a possible collaboration for the new American team's debut season.
"There were discussions with USF1, but now I draw a line under the matter," Wurz told motorline.cc. "My priority is the Peugeot factory team - I'm going to contest the 24 hours of Le Mans and other (sports car) races."
Wurz denies that his pulling out of the running with USF1 has anything to do with the intense rumours suggesting the Charlotte based team is ill-equipped to see through its F1 foray. "No, it is a decision of the heart," said Wurz. "I could earn more money in Formula One, and I am convinced that USF1 will succeed in bringing American technology and American thinking into Formula One.
“Even people like Chip Ganassi are convinced that USF1 will be there.”
Earlier this year, the Austrian driver as well as USF1's sporting director Peter Windsor confirmed they were in contact regarding a possible collaboration for the new American team's debut season.
"There were discussions with USF1, but now I draw a line under the matter," Wurz told motorline.cc. "My priority is the Peugeot factory team - I'm going to contest the 24 hours of Le Mans and other (sports car) races."
Wurz denies that his pulling out of the running with USF1 has anything to do with the intense rumours suggesting the Charlotte based team is ill-equipped to see through its F1 foray. "No, it is a decision of the heart," said Wurz. "I could earn more money in Formula One, and I am convinced that USF1 will succeed in bringing American technology and American thinking into Formula One.
“Even people like Chip Ganassi are convinced that USF1 will be there.”
Was the rumour to join the team as a driver or consultant? If it was as a driver, it wouldn't be a good move for either party. While Wurz has proved himself in the past to be a good development driver with McLaren, the in-season testing ban would limit what he could do in developing the car. He didn't show good pace at Williams in 2007, and definitely wouldn't fit into any PR plans at USF1.
Perhaps as a consultant it would have been different. Alex is a smart guy and would have helped the young team well.
Posted by: Paul_Murtagh | December 04, 2009 at 02:18 AM