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nce a practicing attorney, Bob Varsha has taken over the mantle of “The Voice of Formula One in America” for more than two decades. F1PULSE.com caught up with the man himself in a one-on-one EXCLUSIVE interview. He shares his insights on USF1, Grand Prix racing in the United States, American drivers, Stefan GP and Bernie Ecclestone.
Hiring American drivers for USF1 for the benefit of the sport in the US
Absolutely! It would be great to have American drivers in Formula One. And USF1, Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, have said that is their goal. But I think as they looked about for their first drivers, they realised that it does not make sense to build a new team and hire an American driver. And by definition be inexperienced in the technology, in the race tracks, the media pressure and all of the things that are a part of the F1 lifestyle. Ken and Peter insist that they will have Formula One drivers as their program develops. Right now, it is just not possible.
The difficulties involved in hiring an American driver
"Bernie has this Serbian sportsman with deep pockets beating him over the head trying to get through the door!" - On Stefan GP
For example, there is no young American that holds a Formula One super license. And, because USF1 is delayed in getting their cars together they cannot provide sufficient testing for a young American driver to get the super license. The process of building up a team and making it as American as USF1 would like it to be is a matter of small steps and priorities. In addition, you have to take each step one at a time. Get your team up and running, get your cars on the grid and then get your American drivers lined up. They have not made their final announcements yet, but we will see young Americans involved in the future of USF1. When the team takes the grid for the first time It will not be with American drivers and I can understand that, and the fans will probably understand as well. Hopefully, we will be patient enough while USF1 takes those small steps.
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Ken Anderson (left) and Peter Windsor of USF1
© AP Images
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Bernie’s uncertainty and his lack of support for USF1
Personally, I have been very puzzled and discouraged with the things Bernie has been saying and the lack of support for a US-based Formula One team. Having said that, it is not Bernie’s responsibility if they succeed or fail but if in fact, he does want that American presence so badly, I think there is more that can be done. It is a very tough job. Bernie always has an agenda when he speaks. Sometimes, I am convinced that he is not even saying what he really feels. Bernie never saw a camera or a microphone that he did not love! He knows what makes a good headline!
About Stefan GP trying to take USF1’s seat
Bernie is in a situation right now where he has what appears to be a low funded team ready to take the grid but lacking a franchise and that would be Stefan GP. As a good businessman should, he is taking a closer look at things right now. He sees that a couple of teams are struggling, specifically Campos Meta and USF1. Meanwhile, he has this Serbian sportsman with deep pockets beating him over the head trying to get through the door! A good businessman would say, okay, let’s pluck out the weak sisters and put in a strong team, if that, in fact, is what Stefan GP is. They bought the Toyota operation so they should be good to go. But, they just don’t have permission to be on the grid. I can understand Bernie’s interest in getting thirteen strongest teams on the grid but you need to balance that against the long-term future of the sport, which would be in much better shape if they get back in the US. That process will be helped a lot more by having the US team and US drivers in the sport than by fighting that process just to get another team on the grid.