F1 To Lose 3 Teams For 2015?

Just like there is no chance of having 12 constructors (team making their own chassis) on an equal footing now, it makes absolutely no sense to have too many car manufacturers in F1. There will just be no tangible return for their investement there.

Apart from F1, car manufacturers can choose to support endurance, 3 or 4, or GT racing, or rallying, or touring car racing, or DTM for brand exposure, publicity, etc...
It wouldn't make sense to have them all in F1.

Ford, BMW, Toyota, Jaguar don't seem to have suffered from withdrawing from F1, and VW, AUDI, PSA, from not entering it.

 

My bad. I stand corrected.

Unlike some here, I never claim to always be right!

Cheers,
Ian

 

This.

F1 is not about fairness, equalizing the field, etc. It is about who is the best under the Formula.

Rules wise for constructors/teams it should be total points scored by all cars. 1st place + 2nd place is still more points than 3rd + 4th + 5th. The teams with talent will all be fielding 3 cars anyway, and it's the driver's championship that counts.

 

As engine suppliers MB, Renault and Ferrari all have what is in effect veto power over F1 specs. At any point any and all of them, including Ferrari, could take their toys and go home.

 

Has there ever been? As The Viz noted earlier, it's *all* about ego. And about racing cars you designed and built. And being the best there is. With the fastest cars. At the pinnacle of the sport.....

True.

But it remains the most watched sport there is..... It's ego driven but the model endures. The WEC? Gt racing? DTM? Irrelevant and for those with no balls!

Cheers,
Ian

 

In the eyes of the great unwashed, true.

But to the teams? Nope. Again, the all important money is handed out based on WCC results. Glory comes from the WDC, funding from the WCC....

We could debate whether that model is right, but it's endured for longer than any other race series there is.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Corparations, or at least those who run them, have egos too.

 

Fortunately!

Trouble is, those egos can be overridden all too easily......

 

You can only get that if most drivers have access to competitive cars and most teams spend time operating cars instead of creating them!

If the field was mostly made of McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams entered by their factories and private teams alike, we would have more chance to see who are the best drivers.
Apart that these constructors could spread their cost by selling their cars, the private teams would have a chance to select what's best for them, and not struggle all year long.

What F1 needs is deregulation and market forces. For example, if Team A isn't happy with the Mclarens it bought last winter, mid-season it can go and buy a pair of Williams instead if they are faster.

 

That sort of about face was difficult to pull off in simpler times. Today it would be impossible

Other than that you're not wrong.

 

A very dismissive opinion, I must say.
Why should a car maker invest in a series that has no relevance to its products?

I guess those series entered by companies "with no balls" sell more cars than F1.


They are regionally, nationally followed by passionate fans who actually follow every races in the series.

Apart from journalists, I have never met someone who had attended every GPs in a season, year after year. Have you?

But you find people supporting DTM or BTCC (and maybe NASCAR, I don't know) with fervour, going from places to places in their camping vans. National and Open GT championships have a strong following in Europe, so has LME. They are series affordable to competitors (to a point) and spectators.

So, you comment has to be taken with a pinch of salt...

 

You did take note of the smiley face I hope?....

But yeah, it's a lot easier to follow a regional or even national series than the globe trotting true world championship of motorsport. With the fastest cars, best engineering and best drivers rather than second raters who failed in F1. <<< >>>

On the rare occasions I've seen the DTM or the BTCC on the 'box I do know the stands are pretty much empty though. I'm sure they have their dedicated fans, but it ain't F1....

I only went to (almost, long story) every race when I was working in it BTW. A *long* time ago. Unless you're very wealthy, with much, much too much time on your hands it would be impossible.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Even Bernie doesn't go to all of them.

 

Why not? I read he liked to keep an eye on everything, and make sure all the transporters are aligned correctly in the paddock, etc...
Also, he is probably entitled to free transport and lodging.

Think of it, maybe he avoid some countries in case there was a warrant waiting for him ...

 

No doubt he has his reasons.

 

Attendance at BTCC is very much dependent on the weather forecast, I found. But followers attend 8 venues a year, instead of just one British GP.

As for empty stands, they are becoming familiar in F1 with the remote places Bernis insists the championship has to vist, where there is no grassroot support for motorsport and even less F1.

If it wasn't for TV, F1 would have died long time ago in its present form.

 

Any rumors of Marussia changing hands?

 

That depends on the weekly check from mr Chilton senior. Heard Montezemolo is going to drive the thing in Friday practice