From F-1 Live today: As the shock news of Honda's Formula One departure sinks in, fears that another team could drop off the 2009 grid are rising. It was thought Japanese rival Toyota could be the most likely to follow the auto making giant out of the paddock, amid an even worse slump in car sales figures in the key US market. But it is Red Bull, the Austrian energy drinks company, and owner of two teams, that has issued the most worrying statement, declaring it is "not surprised" by Honda's decision. "Numerous other race teams are having similar thoughts," the Austrian group is quoted as saying by AFP. "The main issue now is whether the reductions in costs all of us must make will come quickly enough to guarantee a sufficient number of teams carrying on." Even the sport's major players, like 2008 drivers' World Champions McLaren, are feeling the pinch, with team boss Ron Dennis telling The Observer that annual turnover is likely to drop nearly $150m because of the downturn. "Our budgets come from the advertising budgets of the companies that support us, and inevitably advertising budgets get slashed or, at least are significantly trimmed in times of economic strife," he said. Ferrari and McLaren's ongoing participation is solid, and Toyota has confirmed its commitment, but all the signs suggest that one more team could go missing ahead of next March's Australian Grand Prix. Williams' chief executive Adam Parr told The Times that he expects eight teams to line up on the Melbourne grid, down from the current nine following Honda's pullout. Similarly, Gerhard Berger, the recently departed Toro Rosso co-owner, told Germany's Der Spiegel that "the only question is 'who is next?'" Asked by the Press Association if he can imagine another team following Honda out the door, FIA President Max Mosley answered "yes."
I think Toyota is going to go... and so is STR, nobody has bought them, and only a year until they call it quits.
STR is as good as gone. If a major manufacturer can't support a single team how can an independent support two?
F these guys and there mothers. There are only a handful of teams to begin with, so do they mean all teams? Just because they can't make a go of it and there crappy team is failing and looking for excuses doesn't mean the entire grid will be. Just more bigwig **** faces trying to spin an awful position into a drama, it's sickening how often this BS spews forth from the mouths of idiots like these. F1 will not fail because of the failings of small, undesirable teams and their poor decisions.
um, neil, your whistling past the graveyard if you think these teams are posturing. These are serious times for all motorsports...
I seriously doubt it, a couple of small teams may flee but F1 will be around for a long time. I'll bet you and Napolis a hundred dollar bill each that F1 will survive the economic spiral we currently see. Say 2 years {that should be long enough for the world to recover} without losing a major F1 team and no more than 3 teams leave during the two year period, teams may change hands like they always do but can not fail to exist. Major F1 teams: Ferrari, McLaren and BMW, anyone else can jump ship, if more than three teams leave or if one major team leaves, I lose.
Also I don't think "these" teams are posturing. I think Redbull is crying about the economy instead of its poor performance.
The problem is, the F1 field is so thin, that it can't afford to have a few teams fold. If they don't put 16 cars on the grid, Bernie defaults on his contract with the promoters. His contract guarantees this. One more team and we're at 16 cars. The field has been too thin for a long time. In 1989 36 cars tried to qualify for the usgp in phoenix.... Kevin
Simon, I agree. I hope Renault stays with Alonzo, their 2 time WDC, for the upcoming seasons. But these are interesting times we live in. If the car is good enough, Alonzo is good enough, to win Renault a World Driver's Championship and World Constructor's Championship, they will stay. If not, they leave. Ciao...Paolo
Seems like a possible domino effect here. If the roster continues to whittle down then it becomes even more senseless for some others to continue. I'm sure they're all thinking that the money could be better spent elsewhere right now. The teams should get together and grind Bernie and Co. or sit the year out. The guy would probably have a heart attack if he thinks he's losing control.
Or some lesser teams could become mid-level teams, when F1 clears this rough patch and new teams begins forming {if the grid does lose a few} at the bottom of the food chain.
Chris, Yeah, I know. Isn't the gossip these days that Alonzo, will join Ferrari, for the 2010 or 2011 F1 season? With Santander, a Spanish financial institution, joining Ferrari, this year 2009, as one of their main sponsers? With things starting to fall apart, economy-wise and F1 wise, it may not matter. Ciao...Paolo
The first thing I said after Honda's announcement was that this would clear the path for Toyota to follow suit. And most likely others after that.
16 cars ? That's well wishing, unless Bernie digs deep for gridfill. Oh well, he might as well since he'll be down there for Team Slavica. Is any of this a surprise ? If you happened to be the CEO of a 'participant' team, what on earth would be your motivation in staying in F1 ? Spend millions to showcase your product as middling (or worse, ie; Honda)? Continue in case Bernie changes his mind and decides visibility in your key markets is important ? Go for another year to determine once and for all that a win in F1 has no impact on sales ? He'll be lucky to have 10 cars on the grid.
Is it out of the question that Ferrari and McLaren would field 3 cars each to keep the season running? Or, could Ferrari take over Toro Rosso as a sister sub team, in a similar manner as Honda did with Super Aguri? With money short from giant businesses but still billions of dollars at risk, I wouldn't put any idea on the shelf.
Renault did a better job in 2005 and 2006 by winning the constructors and drivers championships with a significantly smaller budget than Ferrari, Toyota and McLaren. They know how to get results with fewer euros, which cannot be said for some of the bigger fish. I think it will be Toyota and Use the Force India, and possibly STR. In any case, if RBR closes up, they can certainly sell Vettel's contract for a tidy sum.
While we can condemn F1 management for a lot of dumb decisions, it's the times that are at work. In the traditional F1 venues, political correctness is the theme du jour. Where cars are politically incorrect, racing is going to come under attack. Where people buy basic road appliances based on "green" claims and simply out weighing the other vehicle, a performance series just isn't getting manufacturers the market share. "Win on Sunday" just doesn't translate into "Sell on Monday" anymore. Toyota may have been beating the pants off Honda in F1 --- but Toyota doesn't sell performance cars, anymore. Vehicle responsiveness isn't a selling point, when people aren't required to have a clue before going out to join the rest of the cattle in the gridlock. And how much can people appreciate racing, when they know nothing about weight transfer and throttle management -- and only have a vague notion of the use of a steering wheel? F1 is going to be displaced by demolition derbies. Speed channel is marketing to the next generation. Welcome to the dark age.
I don't think F1 will fail, but your post is ridiculously stupid. Would you care if Ferrari, BMW and McLaren all pulled out, and left everyone else in ? Nothing but 'crappy teams' ?? Do you even have a clue as to what is going on the the business world today ?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081210/bs_afp/franceautoexecutivecompanyrenault;_ylt=ApVrF2UH_FtVwzFY6RB_2Fx0bBAF Ghosn's lack of committal to the F1 team had large part in Fernando leaving the first time, now that he is CEO and board chairman, I would not be surprised if he decided to pull the team out of F1.
