planetf1.com

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/rich ... p/3201980/

Found this surprising as they were spotted on the grid with Williams last week in Austin.

Black and gold livery next year perhaps?

I just can't take Rich Energy seriously as a reliable financial source. Something seems really, really off with them as a company, with their value, their funds... I wouldn't be at all shocked if halfway through next year, the deal falls apart because they've not come up with the money.

Jenson's Understeer wrote:I just can't take Rich Energy seriously as a reliable financial source. Something seems really, really off with them as a company, with their value, their funds... I wouldn't be at all shocked if halfway through next year, the deal falls apart because they've not come up with the money.

I second that. I can't pinpoint what it is about them though.

Well the black and gold John Player Specials were some of the most beautiful graphics packages in the history of Formula 1. Right up there with the classic Lotus Green and Yellow and the Jordan 191.

I will be waiting to see the mockups of how next year's car might look.

Black and gold will look superb...... But agree with the statements about the company, they do seem a little off.

How many weird and bizarre energy drinks have been involved with F1 now? Hype, EJ10 (A drink launched on the back of a team rather then sponsoring them per sé)...... Anyone ever actually buy/taste either of them?

Colinjb wrote:Black and gold will look superb...... But agree with the statements about the company, they do seem a little off.

How many weird and bizarre energy drinks have been involved with F1 now? Hype, EJ10 (A drink launched on the back of a team rather then sponsoring them per sé)...... Anyone ever actually buy/taste either of them?

I've never actually seen EJ10 in a shop before.

orbthef1fan wrote:

Jenson's Understeer wrote:I just can't take Rich Energy seriously as a reliable financial source. Something seems really, really off with them as a company, with their value, their funds... I wouldn't be at all shocked if halfway through next year, the deal falls apart because they've not come up with the money.

I second that. I can't pinpoint what it is about them though.

And thirded.

Seems like a scam company.

I'm dubious about them, but I also trust Haas to have done some due diligence. If they're accepting the company as a title sponsor, I'm going to assume they actually exist and have some money.

Exediron wrote:I'm dubious about them, but I also trust Haas to have done some due diligence. If they're accepting the company as a title sponsor, I'm going to assume they actually exist and have some money.

Well, the word is that the money is actually still coming from David's Gold and Sullivan, of West Ham (and 'dildo brothers' ) fame. I'm still yet to see a can of this stuff in any shop anywhere in England, Saward seems to think that they are going to be 'launching' the drink on the back of the F1 team, which I guess would make some sense, but they aren't going to be winning the 'energy drink' race any time soon, Haas isn't going to be faster than Mercedes (Monster) or Red Bull next season.

Also seems an odd deal for Haas too for me, I thought the whole point of this team was to advertise the CnC business alone.... perhaps the realisation that his F1 team is never going to compete in the same way his other race team does has led to a rethinking of the financing?

orbthef1fan wrote:

Jenson's Understeer wrote:I just can't take Rich Energy seriously as a reliable financial source. Something seems really, really off with them as a company, with their value, their funds... I wouldn't be at all shocked if halfway through next year, the deal falls apart because they've not come up with the money.

I second that. I can't pinpoint what it is about them though.

I'm not sure it's too hard to pinpoint to be honest. A company no one has heard of, competing in an already saturated market with a product no one seems to have ever seen in any shop, somehow have millions to spend on sponsoring an F1 team. I don't see how any sane investor would throw such a large sum of money at a fledgling company.

Still, I'm confident Gene Haas knows what he's doing.

I always thought Hype and Rich Energy were the same thing.

j man wrote:

orbthef1fan wrote:

Jenson's Understeer wrote:I just can't take Rich Energy seriously as a reliable financial source. Something seems really, really off with them as a company, with their value, their funds... I wouldn't be at all shocked if halfway through next year, the deal falls apart because they've not come up with the money.

I second that. I can't pinpoint what it is about them though.

I'm not sure it's too hard to pinpoint to be honest. A company no one has heard of, competing in an already saturated market with a product no one seems to have ever seen in any shop, somehow have millions to spend on sponsoring an F1 team. I don't see how any sane investor would throw such a large sum of money at a fledgling company.

Still, I'm confident Gene Haas knows what he's doing.

True, it seems obvious as to how Lawrence Stroll was successful in buying Force India and how the Rich Energy bid wasn't. But Haas must have a reason to believe they are worth having as a title sponsor.

ReservoirDog wrote:Seems like a scam company.

Really?

With testimonials from such internationally acclaimed clientele as:

The Grey Horse - Kingston

http://img01.beerintheevening.com/2e/2e ... 145b32.jpg

Nisa - Metheringham

http://metheringham-lin.place-advisor.c ... 112196.jpg

Dukes Head Inn - Richmond

https://pubshistory.com/SurreyPubs/Rich ... ksHead.jpg

I'm shocked you can be so cynical RD?

In all fairness though, there is also a testimonial from the Marriot Hotel, Canary Wharf & not 1 but 2 from Cloud 23 Restaurant, Hilton Hotel, Manchester.

Jezza13 wrote:

ReservoirDog wrote:Seems like a scam company.

Really?

With testimonials from such internationally acclaimed establishments such as:

The Grey Horse - Kingston

http://img01.beerintheevening.com/2e/2e ... 145b32.jpg

Nisa - Metheringham

http://metheringham-lin.place-advisor.c ... 112196.jpg

Dukes Head Inn - Richmond

https://pubshistory.com/SurreyPubs/Rich ... ksHead.jpg

I'm shocked you can be so cynical RD?

In all fairness though, there is also a testimonial from the Marriot Hotel, Canary Wharf & not 1 but 2 from Cloud 23 Restaurant, Hilton Hotel, Manchester.

Oh My God, I hadn't seen the 'testimonials' section on their website Can you imagine Red Bull having testimonials on their website from the Austrian equivalent of Nisa?!

Jenson's Understeer wrote:

Jezza13 wrote:

ReservoirDog wrote:Seems like a scam company.

Really?

With testimonials from such internationally acclaimed establishments such as:

The Grey Horse - Kingston

http://img01.beerintheevening.com/2e/2e ... 145b32.jpg

Nisa - Metheringham

http://metheringham-lin.place-advisor.c ... 112196.jpg

Dukes Head Inn - Richmond

https://pubshistory.com/SurreyPubs/Rich ... ksHead.jpg

I'm shocked you can be so cynical RD?

In all fairness though, there is also a testimonial from the Marriot Hotel, Canary Wharf & not 1 but 2 from Cloud 23 Restaurant, Hilton Hotel, Manchester.

Oh My God, I hadn't seen the 'testimonials' section on their website Can you imagine Red Bull having testimonials on their website from the Austrian equivalent of Nisa?!

Well, according to their website, this is apparently the building their head office is housed in


https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03 ... c3322d.jpg

And this mob wanted to buy FI.

Compare to RB head office in Austria


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... AgBJrKpLx9

And RB just don't own (rent) office space in the building, it owns the entire bloody complex.

I'm sure Gene knows what he's doing

Well he did re-sign both Grosjean and KMag so I wouldn't be too sure?

i hope the check cashed before they made this announcement

Apparently they pulled out of deal with Williams at the 11th hour after Williams asked for proof of funds, the deal with Haas is for half the amount of what the Williams deal would have been.

pokerman wrote:Apparently they pulled out of deal with Williams at the 11th hour after Williams asked for proof of funds, the deal with Haas is for half the amount of what the Williams deal would have been.

This sounds distinctly dodgy, I just hope that Haas has enough money to survive when what seems inevitable will happen and Rich Energy prove that they aren't so rich after all.

You'd imagine some sort of cash has changed hands before an announcement like this. Gene Haas is no idiot, and I doubt he is allowing himself to be led up the garden path by a bearded wierdo with the promise of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Totally speculating, but perhaps Williams did get the proof of funds and didn't particularly like where the money was coming from?

Flash2k11 wrote:You'd imagine some sort of cash has changed hands before an announcement like this. Gene Haas is no idiot, and I doubt he is allowing himself to be led up the garden path by a bearded wierdo with the promise of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Totally speculating, but perhaps Williams did get the proof of funds and didn't particularly like where the money was coming from?

Would expect at least some escrow funds committed.

Sky Sports reported today on the FP1 broadcast that Haas signed Rich Energy for about half of the price that Claire Williams and Rich Energy had been talking about.

Flash2k11 wrote:Gene Haas is no idiot, and I doubt he is allowing himself to be led up the garden path by a bearded wierdo with the promise of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

This tickled my funny bone.