YouTube and Best Buy on 2010 US F1 livery?
It was not explained if the deal involves sponsorship by the YouTube video-sharing website, whose relationship with Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management has been a difficult one.
"Getting in on the ground floor of a project of this size and scope is a tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to helping shape the US F1 vision and corporate strategy for years to come," said Hurley.
Team principal Anderson added: "Bringing in a businessman with his level of credentials, and experience in developing and fostering a vision for startup companies, is an honor, and we look forward to taking on the formula one challenge together in 2010 and beyond."
Sporting director Windsor said: "Chad's commitment to this team is vital and his visionary expertise and leadership will help steer us into the future as we look to attract best-in-class sponsors, drivers, employees and fans in our quest to compete at the highest level of motor sports."
08/07/09 (GMM) Another major American brand is being linked with the new-for-2010 formula one team US F1.
Chad Hurley, the co-founder of YouTube, has been mentioned as a major investor of the Charlotte-based outfit headed by journalist Peter Windsor and technical expert Ken Anderson.
Now, it is believed the American electronics store Best Buy is interested in also getting involved, after its chief marketing officer Barry Judge revealed on his Twitter page that he recently met with US F1 officials.
"Thoughts on how a Best Buy partnership would help our entry into Europe?" he wrote inquisitively.
His reference to Europe is that Best Buy recently announced plans to open stores in the UK and other European countries for the first time in 2010.
Judge also said YouTube's Hurley was at the meeting and is indeed the "big investor" of the US F1 team.
US F1 joint boss Peter Windsor has promised that the new North Carolina-based Formula 1 team will boast a '21st century' sponsor package, and refused to deny that video website YouTube will be among its backers.
YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley attended the British Grand Prix with Windsor and his US F1 partner Ken Anderson.
07/05/10 In an interview with American broadcaster SPEED channel, Windsor was coy about US F1's chances of a YouTube tie-up.
"I did see Chad at Silverstone, he was around and it was good to see him there," said Windsor.
"People have tied him to our team, which is incredibly flattering, and who knows?
"We've got plenty of announcements that we'll be making shortly, and we'll be announcing the identities of all of our investors and quite a lot of other stuff as well, really exciting stuff.
"At the moment all I can say is that we've just got our heads down doing what is immediately important to us, which is building the team now that we've got our entry.
"But we have got a great investor group and it's going to take us into the 21st century in a way that you guys have never imagined."
Windsor also confirmed that the loss of the budget cap – a regulation that he had previously cited as key to the US F1 project – should not be an issue for the squad.
"The official limit has gone and of course that means that teams can now spend whatever they want," he said.
"But the point that [co-founder] Ken Anderson and I have been making from the start, that we believe we can do a lot more for less money than the other teams in the pit lane, is still incredibly valid.
"Although the teams are saying that the budget cap has gone, none of them are saying that they're going to carry on spending $250 to 400 million dollars a year.
"They're all saying that they're going to cut back.
"Our point is that if you take whatever that number is, whether it's 30 million or 200 million, we're going to be able to do more with that number because of the way we're doing the team.
"We're starting from zero, which is a big help in terms of keeping costs down and not having to absorb redundant systems, and beyond that we believe in the philosophy of American technology, and I think that's going to give us a lot of advantages in many areas." ITV-F1
06/26/09 (GMM) Sir Richard Branson has signed a deal to re-name the new formula one team Manor Grand Prix after his Virgin brand in 2010, Britain's BBC reports.
The flamboyant billionaire said at Silverstone last weekend that he is unlikely to continue sponsoring Brawn GP next year, because the Brackley based championship leaders' value has skyrocketed.
Before the former Honda team's immense success, Brandon had grand plans for Brawn, including full naming sponsorship and possibly the transfer of equity.
Those plans, however, have reportedly been simply switched to the fledgling and more affordable 2010 entry Manor Grand Prix, the collaboration of boss John Booth's F3 outfit and former Simtek chief Nick Wirth.
Along with the Virgin speculation, the BBC reports that another well known global brand will be involved with a new formula one team in 2010.
Like Branson, YouTube co-founder American Chad Hurley was also at Silverstone, reportedly putting the finishing touches on a deal with the new US F1 team.
As the Team US F1 plans speed along, team co-founder Peter Windsor was stepped down from his role interviewing the drivers in the official post-qualifying and race press conferences, replaced by former ITV commentator James Allen.