http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96031 Personally, I have to agree with Whitmarsh. First, there are not enough "first tier" teams that can afford three cars to make up a field of even 15 cars. Secondly, there are not enough "pay for the ride" drivers to help pay for these third cars, tranporters, mechanics, etc. Thirdly, sponsors are limited and may not want to foot the bill for a third car. Fourthly, if there would sadly be another Toyota, Honda, etc, team pullout of the sport, watching a 12 car field would be truly boring. And fifthly, Montezemelo is an arrogant twit.
Montezemelo wouldn't be asking for third cars if testing were allowed. It is BS that they have managed there business well enough to own a couple of F1 circuits and aren't allowed to use them.
For once I'm broadly in agreement with him.... 10-12 different *constructors* seems about right. However, he said a lot more than a simple "no" to the idea - My emphasis added of course; And don't forget Bernie's obligation to put 20 (?) cars on the grid every time - If the minnows disappear he'd need LdM & Martins support to fill the grid - I wouldn't like it, but at least the grid would remain full. Cheers, Ian
How does a third car overcome the no testing? Which F1 circuits does Ferrari own? They own their own test track, but that is nothing close to an FIA F1 circuit. The testing limitation affects all the teams, not just Ferrari. The facts are, as Ian stated, there must be 20 cars on the grid. Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes are the only teams that come to mind that might find the money to run a third car with a third crew. That is 12 cars. Add another 3 for luck, you have 15. Short 5 of the requirement. The 3 car idea is just stupid. Montezemelo needs to keep his mouth shut and stop threatening to pull Ferrari from F1 if he can not have his way. In fact, now that Silvio Berlusconi is likely to resign, I hope Montezemelo takes his place and leaves Ferrari.
More data...... I believe that in addition to their track near Maranello they also "own" Mugello. I also believe that at least the former is actually "FIA approved". +1 I'd go as far as to say it affects Ferrari even more..... Michael *ate* the testing miles! Problem became you needed 1xrace team and 2x test teams to be competitive.... Wow! Why not tell us how you really feel! We beg to differ, Cheers, Ian
Fiorano, and Autodromo Piero Taruffi (ACI Vallelunga Circuit). "but that is nothing close to an FIA F1 circuit." How do you figure that? They are probably better tracks than the stale designs from Tilke. "The testing limitation affects all the teams, not just Ferrari." The other teams do not have a track in their back yard to run 24/7.... "I hope Montezemelo takes his place and leaves Ferrari." Those are foolish words. It i sonly because of him that the resurgence took place. Who do you think can replace him? He worked directly with Enzo running the f1 team. There isn't a better successor. I suppose you want Dominicali...?
In today's F1 there are no "small" teams. Just underfunded ones. The days when a garargiste outfit can win are long gone and while the sport is poorer for it that's the way it is.
+1 and Ferrari long ago shed the small team designation. They make more money selling tshirts and branded items than anything else. They are a marketing company. I could care less if they leave the sport. I think F1 would survive and in fact would bring Ferrari back, because F1 would survive. The 3 car issue is a distraction nothing else. Personally for me the issue is no longer technology. They need to re simplify the cars and force driving skill back to the fore rather than tech or engineers. Clutches and steel brakes would be just fine with me. One must 'drive' to win.
If F1 isn't about being the ultimate in race tech it loses it's unique selling position. At the same time it has to respect it's rich history and Ferrari is an intrinsic part of that.
That sounds quite "Nascarish". And I´m not sure that I like that. To be more precise: I really don´t like that.
Fine just bring back manual transmission/clutch. That would be a huge plus in making a driver win again. There is room for innovation along these lines. What next flying cars for F1. Its become too technical in some ways. Thats all Im saying.
I'm not sure how much driver skill has been marginalized by the tech. There was a time when drivers were required to do all their own pit work. Are we the worse for doing away with that? It's not as if all the tech assistance has made driving so easy. They still seem to have plenty to do.
All these artificial rules harms the "sport". Frankly I dont care if it cost $1B to run the Ferrari F-1 team. When they are charging $300K for a new car they can do it. Also I dont know why they cant run 5 cars if they wanted to... back in the 70's BRM used to run up to 5 cars each race. 3 for the team and two pay for the race cars .... Ferrari used to run 3 cars on a regular basis, until it got too expensive...What is the big deal. I know there must be a ton of hispiania racing fans and or virgin racing fans....( not!) why not give up and coming drivers a chance? and or make the 3rd cars an invitational car, have the guys from NASCAR, TOURING CARS, LEMANS series etc... show up... Frankly if Di Montezemolo wants to drive the car him self he should be alowed.... They need to open the rules for more aero, electronics and engine development.
They move their fingers. They turn dials and punch buttons. They need to move their feet again, engage a clutch and end power steering. They have have the brakes and aero etc. They can have all the great engine management etc. Whats wrong with that. They did away with traction control etc.
My point is that no matter how many chores you remove the drivers will still devote 100% of their attention and ability. Talent will still out. In fact there is an argument that by removing these tasks a greater amount of pure driving skill prevails.
Driving skill with those things. Driving skill without. It works differently for different configurations. They got rid of traction control. Why not a few other things. Its a show
Ah. There we differ. While F1 has indeed become all about the show we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that if it's not about the competition the show loses all meaning.
I dunno, it might be pretty entertaining to see that giant head of his bouncing from side to side like a bobble head...
