Lehdistötiedotteet - Changing gears

Changing gears

The Italian brand has 'new owners', but that doesn't mean the grid will lose one team next season.

Prior to the Mexican Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari hosted a press conference without specifying about what would it be about.

"Good morning. Official statement. The organisation "Scuderia Ferrari SpA" has reached an agreement by which its identity is transferred by an agreed price that won't be unveiled yet. In any case, the basis team will remain the same, and so its drivers, budgets and headquarters. That won't change." - said Ferrari's team principal, nicorz, to open the presser.

After that, the Spanish manager also for Ferrari's current second driver, Ángel Holguera, announced the new identity of his team. "99.71% of shareholders have voted in favour of making changes, and so we are doing. Today, I want to announce you the entry of Escudería Pegaso into Formula One, the second ever Spanish team on this competition".

After a round of applause, nicorz proceeded to present the new structure. He will still be in charge of the team, with Brazilian manager jeansapia as his assistant and with felson and JordiMontané as 'backup' assistants.



Then, season 37 Pegaso drivers' were called on to stage. Firstly, it was Marc Vilanova, current first driver of Ferrari, and then Marc Montané, Spanish number one driver and NASC Gold Cup's runner-up on season 36, who will be the second driver for the team.

As major shareholder of the team, JordiMontané said "this is a new beginning and we are finally feeling this team is truly ours", while his driver Montané hopes "to do the best possible and give one hundred per cent for Pegaso".

As team manager, nicorz said that "it's very hard to do well with an F1 team these days, but we are mainly hoping for a boost for the Spanish community for the future. We've been many years pursuing this and we've finally achieved it, so we have to enjoy it and do the best possible".

Before the end of this press conference, the drivers of season 36 for Ferrari (Vilanova and Holguera) and the new driver for season 37 (Montané) introduced the new livery of Pegaso's car for season 37 onwards (codenamed ESP.F1), a black car with the aim of showing 'progress and change of era', in words of the designer, JordiMontané.



This change has surprised many on the paddock, but for the owners of the new Pegaso team, it's a 'breath of fresh air' and some hope to achieve good things on the future. The still-named Ferrari team is now on P11 with zero points, although some could have been achieved until bad luck and mistakes made by Vilanova and Holguera didn't let that happen. Their engine is seeming to be a problem, as it's not as powerful as other teams engines, resulting on a big disadvantage for their drivers.

We will keep an eye on Pegaso's future, with two Spanish drivers that will give the best of them to 'make Pegaso fly again'.