Just curious as to how many folks think it would tank
In a couple of years, it won't matter: the mutated spec series will be unwatchable to people who remember traditional F1, and the young people will be "programmed" to think all cars are "evil". I'd like to see Ferrari racing production cars, but just dropping F1 would hurt Ferrari more than it would hurt the evil gnome.
It would continue on, but it would be a big blow to loose its #1 team. There were Grand Prix races before F1 without Ferrari and there were even a few races without Ferrari participation (in the fifties and in the pirate wars of the eighties). It is not a crowd pleaser, but it would be possible. The bigger question is: Could Ferrari survive without the exposure in F1? I would think so, but the company might have to start advertising its cars like everybody else.
as far as i'm concerned, F1 is Ferrari and Ferrari is F1. over here, i would say 90% fans are Ferrari fans here. **for some reason, most Mclaren fans here, just seem to dislike Fred no idea why. don't ask me **
Ferrari can dominate any class of racing.Ferrari not participating in the pinnacle of motorsport would not be favoable.They set the standards,they have the most Auto tech-advanced research institute in the world.For them not to compete @ that level would be senseless,even if Mclaren cheats...BTW...all respect is lost for McLaren
F1 needs Ferrari. I like to see Ferrari back in prototypes for a while and back off F1 a couple years. Keep an R&D F1 group together to keep up with technology but let Bernie sweat for awhile when he sees his fan support and TV ratings decline and nails his wallet. The Ferrari/Porsche and Ferrari/Ford battles were great racing years.
I don't know how non-Americans would react. I assume Italians would be very upset and stop watching the races, but that's just a guess. I personally would stop watching F1 if SF pulled out of F1. (I couldn't watch F1 for 3 or 4 years after Senna was killed. It broke my heart.) Speed TV would probably stop covering the races as I believe most Americans are Ferrari fans. Those Americans who are not Ferrari fans like to see their team beat Ferrari. Without Ferrari to beat they would not be as interested in watching the races. Don't see how it would be good for F1 to lose a team that has been a contender for the title for the last decade and has the longest history of racing continuously in F1. Pulling out of F1 is the last trump card SF can play. I believe they will try to work with the system and win the championship rather than pull out. That is just too drastic a move for a multi-billion dollar company in today's world to execute. The PR ramifications could be fatal. Right now SF has alot of sympathy going for it. They would lose that if they took their toys and went home. Now Enzo is a different matter. He would at least threated to pull out until he got something for his team. That's the difference between an iconic individual and a corporate beauracracy that has to report to shareholders. Then there is an Italian word that comes to mind: Vendetta. I would expect SF to make life as miserable for McL as they possibly can. It's not over IMVHO.
The only certainty I know is that I would stop watching. I hope McLaren never wins another title because of this. They don't deserve it.
Tell that to Artvonne and everybody else who think it doesn't matter. They seem to be forgetting that the sole reason we have Ferraris for the streets is F1. Without F1 Enzo wouldn't have started the road car production.
Lamboghini and Aston Martin have. Suppose, just for grins, that Ferrari threw their effort into champ cars and the lemans series? Corvette, Viper (before), and Aston Martin are putting on a pretty good show. I think, crazy as it sounds, that a temporary pullout protest by Ferrari would have something of a righteous grand gesture about it - and that their real supporters would fully understand.
+1. Ferrari will be okay for 10 or so years, but will then fall into the similar catagory as Lotus, Lamborghini, Maserati or Aston Martin as a company that makes fancy, fast cars.
...I guess there´s nothing much to do for Ferrari but finding a way of proving they used that info in any way, or at least, that the Big Names were aware of it and involved in the breach since april... IMO they should skip the next 2 races..just to make an statement, and to stop worrying about winning any of both championships...kinda bold move but will rock the boat...
Exactly. And the main reason I bought a Ferrari and not a Lamborghini is their involvement in F1. Seriously.
Nah, it wouldn't. Everyone would just consider Ferrari to be throwing a tantrum like a 2-year old, and most of the sponsorts would be PO'ed. The FIA would probably also hit them with a heavy penalty for bringing the sport into disrepute. All would be warranted, IMO.
Meh. I selected option 3. McLaren will win a few more WDC/WCCs until BMW picks up the pace. It's all cyclical anyway.
Nobody in Europe is interested in Champ Cars or the Le Mans Series, far less than the average American is interested in F1. FIA GT would be better for Ferrari, but only if more factory teams were in there...
True, but my ironic point was to give the razzberry to Yurropeeean racing in general, and concentrate on their biggest target market for a year or two just to make more of a point... I know, figment of my outraged imagination.
If ferrari wants the attention of americans they need to jump into nascar. Iguess the car would be a 612 fitted with a stroked 430 engine....I'm just about rolling off my chair just picturing it in my head
