HRT Set to Exit F1 after Failure to Find Buyer

HRT’s foray into Formula One is likely to be over soon, according to technical director Toni Cuquerella.

It was believed the team’s departing owner Thesan Capital had set an end of November deadline for a new buyer to be found.

Indeed, as November became December over the past weekend, the FIA published the official 2013 entry list, and it made no mention of HRT F1.

But subsequent reports in Spanish newspapers suggested the dream may not be over for the team, who may have been granted more time by the governing body to pay next year’s entry fee.

However, leading team figure Cuquerella wrote on his micro-blog: “Four years ago, I suggested to a friend to make a Formula 1 team.

“Today after three seasons the last page of HRT has been written.

“It was certainly an experience,” the Spanish engineer concluded.

Ferrari test driver Marc Gene, another Spaniard, commented: “It leaves a bad taste, because the probability of another Spanish project (in Formula 1) is small and the precedent is negative.

“Support in Spain normally goes to the drivers,” he is quoted by the EFE news agency.

“I can think of several projects in which it was thought that the country would get behind it, but instead only the athletes are supported,” added Gene, a former Minardi driver.