Glock to leave Marussia according to German media

2013 F1 season

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Timo Glock will not drive for Marussia this year according to a report in Sport Bild.

A team representative told F1 Fanatic in October they had a “long-term” deal with Glock which included a deal to race in 2013. There has been no official confirmation of the report Glock is leaving.

The report quotes Glock saying he has parted from the team on amicable terms and wishes “to make myself new challenges and continue my journey in motorsports”. It says the news will be made official tomorrow.

Glock joined the team when it entered F1 as Virgin in 2010. His 2012 team mate Charles Pic has moved to Caterham for this year and Max Chilton is set to take his place.

Update: Marussia have confirmed Glock is leaving:

Marussia confirm Glock’s departure

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Image © Marussia

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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54 comments on “Glock to leave Marussia according to German media”

  1. This better not be about Marussia wanting another pay driver or I am going to post such a long rant. However I don’t think a diatribe about the evils of neo liberal free market economics is suitable for this site.

    1. @spawinte Whatever’s at the root of it this can only be bad from Marussa’s point of view. Having continuity with Glock and being able to harness his experience was one of their strengths.

      I don’t think we’re about to hear that they’ve just lured Michael Schumacher out of his second retirement and he’s bringing free Mercedes engines with him…

    2. Nick Jarvis (@)
      20th January 2013, 23:10

      I’m genuinly gutted about that. who’s going to replace him do you think?

    3. @spawinte

      This better not be about Marussia wanting another pay driver

      Looks like it is:

      Marussia confirm Glock’s departure

  2. Petrov to Marussia maybe? If that does happen, that might just save Kovalainen from the chop. Silly season still far from over.

    1. Kovalainen is out of a drive. That has been made pretty clear for a while now – the team want a driver with sponsors, which Kovalainen does not want to find.

  3. Great, loosing more talented drivers. If you can’t afford to race why start a team?

    1. This all stems back to the conditions (i.e. budget cap) Marussia signed up to, then Virgin, believed would bei n place for 2010, which did not appear

      1. Wasn’t that thanks to Red Bull?

        1. @sgt-pepper If there’s blame to be apportioned, it has to be Red Bull or Lance Armstrong.

          In this case it’s hard to decide whether it’s a team which had never won a championship which had the power to scupper Max’s evil plans or that dastardly cyclist.

        2. Wasn’t that thanks to Red Bull?

          @sgt-pepper in a word, no.

          If you’re interested in what actually happened:-

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIA%E2%80%93FOTA_dispute

  4. I don’t see the benefit of this to Marussia, why let an experienced talented driver go, who can lead the time and possibly score a point, for possibly a pay driver, one with little experience and new to the team. I fail to see how starting the team possibly with two rookies is good for them, I thought they would take the rise to Caterham this year, but now I am starting to doubt it, unless Caterham have signed Glock (highly unlikely as he is probably gone from F1). I just hope they wont pull up a new GP2 pay driver who won’t do anything for a bit of cash.

    1. @formula-1

      I don’t see the benefit of this to Marussia, why let an experienced talented driver go,

      Perhaps they can’t afford to pay him.

      1. I suppose that can be the only reason, unless the really want the money, I guess if Marussia had not lost out on the 10th place in the Constructors Championship this may not have happened.

  5. It would definitely be a shame if Glock was left without a seat but after trundling around at the back of the grid for three years and no real prospect for moving up I think it might be good for him to try something new, like DTM or Le Mans (maybe with Porsche in 2014?). I’ll miss him in F1 though, he seems like a decent guy and his quotes (if correct) on his split with Marussia show what a class professional he is.

    1. @the_pretender

      I think it might be good for him to try something new, like DTM

      Looks like that’s the plan – he’s testing for BMW this week:

      https://www.racefans.net/groups/f1/forum/topic/timo-glock-in-2013/?#post-88218

  6. petebaldwin (@)
    20th January 2013, 21:25

    The one thing that has confused me up until now has been why Force India have been so quiet. I wonder if this is the reason?

    Marussia aren’t fast enough to benefit from having Glock so they may as well bring a pay driver in! Perhaps the extra cash can pay for a few extra designers or engineers who can really push the team forward?

    1. Good spot..Glock could well be on his way to FI. It would be a popular move I would say. It will be nice to see him running closer to the front again. Timo would be a good fit to FI, he will bring stability and consistency, as he has done throughout his career.

      Since Glock is leaving, I cant see anybody else but Petrov joining Marussia. With the Russian GP on its way, Marussia-Petrov would be the perfect marketing platform for any Russian backers..having said this, its quite a surprise that the high rollers from Moscow havent already parked their cash in F1..maybe they’re just interested in football perhaps?

      So, the musical chairs are far from over..

      1. Personally, I doubt Glock will move to Force India. Just because there is a free seat there and he might become a free agent, that doesn’t mean that the stars will align. Especially considering that the team is already believed to be well into negotiations with Jules Bianchi and Adrian Sutil for that second seat.

        The only way I could conceivably see Glock going to Force India is if Force India is sold. I have heard that Colin Kolles has some backing from German investors, and that they have put forward an offer to buy into the team. They’re just awaiting Vijay Mallya’s response and/or counter-offer.

        It would be a pretty dramatic change, but I think it would only work if it was Glock and Bianchi in Ferrari-powered cars run by Colin Kolles under a new name. Possibly Brabham, since the Brabham family won a legal case against someone who was using their name improperly. Or even (but less likely), Franz Hilmer, who runs Formtech – a “supplier” to Formula 1 teams (though quite what they supply is not clear) – and acquired Super Aguri’s assets when they folded; Hilmer also owns Hilmer Motorsport, which recently replaced Ocean Racing technology in GP2.

  7. Maybe It’s mutual. He’s still got a respect as a good driver, but if he will struggle for more years as a backmarker, it’ll be hurt, and I’m pretty sure that he would fade a bit away, and closer to the age where top level drivers usually need to stop their carreer. Now he’s got respect what can help him to sign to a team closer to top level in another league and race successfully instead of getting a profile on f1rejects…

  8. I do see benefits in the rumour, for Glock, racing at the back for 3 years, not doing much hasn’t been great for him I think for him to join another racing category would now be in his best interest, shine in that instead of wasting more years at the back for the sake of an F1 seat.

  9. Surprised that Glock’s leaving but wouldn’t be surprised if it was about money. F1’s financial regulations seem extremely biased against the small teams, particularly the massive difference between prize money for the top 10 and 11th-12th that almost certainly contributed to the demise of HRT.

  10. If Timo isnt on the grid next year then it will be an awful shame. I honestly think Timo has the talent be in a top 10 car.No Kamui, No Heikki and now No Timo next year..sad, sad!!!

    1. I don’t really understand why you’re so disappointed about Kamui, Heikki and Timo leaving. In far over 10 seasons between them, they’ve recorded 1 win and a handful of podiums.

      At the end of 2009 Kovalainen and Glock gambled on (or were forced into) a new team, and that gamble hasn’t paid off. Not a point has been scored by either and we’re all being told that their performances in those small-team cars have been deserving of a top-team drive? Granted, on occassion, they have been spectacular, but, compared to a roster of team-mates that feature Trulli, Petrov and Pic ranked at the top, is it difficult to look spectacular once in a while?

      I know i’m coming across as overly harsh, and it’s disappointing to lose any driver, but I’d far rather see spaces open for Frijns, Da Costa et al, than proven-to-be-average Kamui, Heikki and Timo trudging around at the back.

  11. I read somewhere that Timo has joined DTM with BMW ?

    1. FlyingLobster27
      20th January 2013, 21:49

      Nextgen-Auto (French) reports that Glock sent a thank-you reply to a “welcome to the club” tweet from BMW-RLL’s American Le Mans Series driver Dirk Müller (do not confuse with DTM driver Dirk Werner). If it’s true, it’s either DTM (in which case definitely BMW) or ALMS.

      1. Presumably they’re also saying he deleted it as there’s no sign of it on there now?

        1. FlyingLobster27
          21st January 2013, 8:33

          They haven’t retracted it in that article, or mentioned a deletion in a subsequent piece. Could be a case of jumping the gun…
          I’ve just noticed, however, that the link was malfunctioning; I can at least rectify that.

          1. FlyingLobster27
            21st January 2013, 8:39

            And I’ve just gone and had a look at Dirk Müller’s Twitter… and the suspicious tweet was actually an answer to Glock’s tweet featured in today’s round-up – “I’m back on Twitter and watching Djokovic vs Wawrinka”. Hence “congrats and welcome to the club” from Müller…
            Badly played, nextgen. “Faute!”, in fact. :(

          2. That explains that one, then!

  12. I feel sorry for Glock and Marussia. Timo deserves to stay in F1 but it’s neither his, nor the team’s fault that he has to leave. Marussia lost the valuable tenth place in the championship and, according to what I have read, Bernie hasn’t offered them to sign the new Concorde Agreement either so it’s no wonder if the team is short of cash. I believe that they are clever people, who know what to do to make progress but they need the money. Shame on F1 that they have to get it by taking pay drivers.

  13. hmm…. glock to force india and senna to marussia??

  14. It would be a shame to see Glock go. And Marussia would loose a lot from not having him.
    But I would understand Glock if he was the one who decided this. He is trundling at the back of the grid. Yeah he might be able to get Caterham next year, or in 2014, but even if they do so they are not going to move a lot further then that until Glock is fit for retirement.
    Considering what he has done in F1 it seems a little pointless using the rest of his prime years gaining results which aren’t worth much to him and a similarly small pay check.
    I could easily see why he would rather take a sidestep and go to DTM, Le Mans, hell even Indy Car and get a machine where he can race in the sharp end and once again fight for results which might actually interest his future grand children.

  15. Wow, that’s a terrible shame. I can’t imagine that this is a decision which Marussia took willingly – it must have been forced upon them by economic circumstances. Life really is tough at the back end of the grid, it’s always been so in Formula One but nevertheless it would be nice if all of the teams could enjoy a measure of financial stability. In any event, best of luck to Timo in his future endeavours.

  16. A silly season indeed! Let’s hope that all isn’t lost for some of these more experienced hands.

    I will say that there’s some terrific talent out there lurking in FR 3.5 and such. We always wonder how they’ll ever get as chance in F1. Maybe we’re about to find out?

  17. ..So now the only driver Marussia have is Chilton. Now that’s not something to be happy about.

  18. Presumably Marussia are looking for a driver who can bring money to the table, which puts guys like Senna, van der Garde and Razia in the frame (assuming their backers are still willing to stump up the cash to put them at a backmarker team). Would it be too much to hope that, if Bianchi misses out on the FI seat, Ferrari could pay for him to drive at Marussia for the season (similar to Ricciardo to HRT)?

    1. Senna, van der Garde and Razia

      @tdog: Aren’t they all on Caterham’s shortlist already?

      1. @tony031r According to various reports, yes. But with only one Caterham seat available, at least two, and maybe all three of them, will miss out. I can’t see why they wouldn’t look at Marussia as a plan B.

        1. @tdog: Van Der Garde is probably gonna remain Caterham-linked and prefer the role of reserve driver with them. He’s settled with the team and he’s experienced enough to realise Marussia isn’t going anywhere.

          Razia will probably prefer to run for another season in GP2 and wait for an opening with a better team, rather than rush in the Marussia seat. Again, a clear case of car-below-the-driver’s-level.

          Senna, maybe, if Caterham don’t pick him first. He’ll be desperate to get a drive and stay in the sport. And he’s got the budget to do just that. So he’s the no.1 option for both teams, in terms of finance, of course.

          So I have a feeling it’s between Senna and Petrov for these two seats, with maybe Haryanto as an option for Marussia. Even though promoting both their academy drivers in one single season, especially when they’ve oficially become the slowest team on the grid, is an incredibly stupid idea, even for a team who changed three no.2 drivers in 3 seasons.

  19. Maybe he’s moving up to a better team?

  20. Heikki will drive for caterham.
    Petrov’s cash just opened up a drive at marrusia as the door closed at caterham (glock just got trulli’d)
    Bianchi will drive for force India

    All the rest get f1reject profiles

    Seriously sutil getting a drive is rubbish – I only rated the guy after he got a bit stabby

    1. Heikki will drive for Caterham.

      As far as I know (there was also an article featured here pointing to this) Kovalainen is not likely to get a drive with Caterham next year. Something to do with Heikki’s management and the internal disputes with Fernandez.

      The way I see it:
      – Bianchi gets the Force India seat (big mistake, considering he’s inexperienced and FI still have Sutil and god knows who else on the table);
      – Senna gets a buy in at Caterham (big mistake, considering Senna is…well, borderline average and can’t possibly contribute much to Caterham’s enter-the-midfield charge; perhaps Razia would be a better choice, not to mention keeping either Petrov or Kovalainen);
      – Petrov gets a cheap buy in at Marussia (big mistake from Petrov, considering Marussia are likely to be the new clear, undisputable, HRT-level backmarkers)

      1. @tony031r

        As far as I know (there was also an article featured here pointing to this) Kovalainen is not likely to get a drive with Caterham next year. Something to do with Heikki’s management and the internal disputes with Fernandez.

        That’s only partially correct, I’m afraid. It’s not an internal dispute – it’s money. The team has made it known that they are looking at drivers who can bring sponsorship to the team, and Kovalainen has gone on the record as saying that he doesn’t want to have to find sponsors to keep a seat.

        Petrov gets a cheap buy in at Marussia (big mistake from Petrov, considering Marussia are likely to be the new clear, undisputable, HRT-level backmarkers)

        Except that Marussia had more meaningful progress in 2012 than Caterham have had in the past three years. They used the CFD-only approach in 2010 and 2011 before abandoning it for 2012. The MR-01 was the first car the team had built using conventional design techniques, and both Marussias were out-qualifying the Caterhams by the end of the season, even if they didn’t quite have the outright race pace. By rights, they should have finished the championship in tenth place; it was only dumb luck that saw Petrov get by Pic in the last laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix (though Marussia’s owner and engineering director, Nikolai Fomenko, reckons Pic did it deliberately because he is moving to Caterham next year). In addition to that, they’re using KERS for the first time this year, and have access to McLaren’s facilities.

        Furthermore, a Russian driver racing for a Russia team could easily attract more Russian sponsors, which means more money to develop the car.

        1. @prisoner-monkeys

          Except that Marussia had more meaningful progress in 2012 than Caterham have had in the past three years.

          While I agree with this, Renault’s involvement with Caterham puts them in a better position to at least try to enter the midfield-zone in 2013. I’m not resuming this issue to engine-supply but being the only Cosworth powered team on the grid can’t really help Marussia. Furthermore, they have a smaller budget than Caterham, they are stuck with Chilton and they don’t have good prospects for a no.1 driver (Petrov is the only decent option but he might still stick with Caterham). This is far from being the ideal situation for the russian team and even though Caterham doesn’t look MUCH better at the moment, they are still half a step ahead.

  21. So now we have a possibility to have the two slowest teams both have 100% pay-drivers – both Marussia and Caterham. Soon I’ll support Bernie’s thinking that we have too many teams. Hate seeing pure paydrivers coming into F1. I want Minardi, Tyrell and Jordan back to grow drivers :)

    1. @f1lauri

      Hate seeing pure paydrivers coming into F1.

      But they’re not “pure paydrivers”.

      “Pure paydrivers” are people like Jean-Denis Deletraz, who had more money than sense and fancied themselves as racing drivers when they had no business racing at all. But in today’s day and age, drivers actually need to earn their place in the sport. That’s what the tiered structure of feeder series is for. It doesn’t matter how much money a driver has, if he cannot complete the minimum requirements for a superlicence, he won’t get to race at all. These drivers aren’t completely devoid of talent – they just need to bring sponsors because it costs $50 million a year just to make the grid in the first place, much less be competitive.

      1. I Love the Pope
        21st January 2013, 2:25

        Are they or are they not the best?

        Does money put some drivers ahead of others who are better drivers?

        I would appreciate an honest answer to these two similar questions.

  22. Timo Glock is a talented driver so in this respect, it’s saddening to see him leave the sport. But I do believe his F1 exit will be a healthy and beneficial move for his racing career because beating rookies in a team incapable of scoring points won’t provide Glock with the same challenge and motivation that the DTM will. Remaining at Marussia could tarnish his reputation, as future F1 fans may possibly remember him as a backmarker instead of a podium-finisher and a potential race-winner. Glock could have easily been a race-winner had he opted for Renault as opposed to Virgin at the end of 2009 (he picked the latter due to Renault’s dubious future following Crashgate).

    Marussia now has to pick a second driver wisely, as a lack of experience could be detrimental (as Williams experienced this year with its drivers). With Glock gone, the team have an excuse to pick up a well-backed driver to finance the team. Out of this category of “pay drivers”, Luiz Razia and Ma Qing Hua were previously competing with Chilton for a Marussia seat. The loser of the Caterham seat, be it Petrov or van der Garde, could also wind up alongside Chilton. Other fingers have pointed to Sebastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, and Heikki Kovalainen.

  23. I think Glock might be of the same breed as Kovalainen, as far as this dispute is concerned. They both had their fair share of disputes within the team over the last two seasons and none of them was content with driving cars that were practically going nowhere in terms of actual development. They both probably hoped for a place with a better team this season, or the last, or the one before. The offers never came, ergo they decided to call quits on the whole thing. This, mixed up with issues with the driver’s management (in Kovalainen’s case) or probably involving the money factor (in Glock’s case) have put a cap on their careers in F1.

    It’s kind of sad, but I’d prefer seeing them race in WEC or DTM or somewhere with some results rather than struggling at the back of the grid in F1.

    On the other hand, this could open the door to Petrov for a seat (provided Caterham will probably bring either Van Der Garde, Senna or Razia in) as Marussia should be looking for at least one sort-of-experienced driver to team up with Chilton.

    Either way, I must say it’s not looking particulary good for Marussia…that’s for sure.

  24. This strikes me as more of a decision on Glock’s side than that Marussia. He’s probably looking into the future and seeing slim chances of him getting back into a decent front running team whilst he’s at Marussia – so whilst he still feels competitive, why not take on another challenge? Perhaps shining in another series (like DTM) might give him a better shot at it. A shame, though.

    1. I think you’re right. It must be well beyond frustrating to be tooling around at the back when you know you’re a better driver than some of those in front of you. Why struggle with a tail-end team? He knows he’s got talent and he also knows that he’s only got a few more years to use that talent. So why not go to series where he has a chance to bag some trophies?

  25. Kovalainen hoped to build and develop the Caterham team around him, in a resource-restricted era of F1, and Glock hoped to do the same with Marussia; now both are gone, the sport is still a big-spenders’ game, and their teams haven’t managed a point after three years. A shame.

    As others have said, Petrov would be a better driver than Marussia probably deserve, but a good fit in terms of marketability. If they can pick up someone with F1 race experience I’m sure they’ll be relieved.

  26. Hate to say this but timo is another driver whose announcement to leave the sport was 2-3 years overdue…

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