Red Bull could quit Formula 1 over current rules

In the unlikely event Bernie is left high and dry I would guess a company like Cosworth would be asked to build an engine more to Bernie's tastes than the car manufacturers like Merc and Renault that would have to leave in order for Cosworth to get the nod anyway.

It wasn't Bernie pushing for 'green' and expensive engines and I doubt he would keep them as part of the formula if he had the genuine opportunity to change direction.

 

Agreed. And it might be the best for the sport.
A return to engines of normal configuration but unlimited development would reduce costs, bring in new blood and increase interest.
The question is one of timing. Could they be brought on line quickly enough?

 

Pretty sure Brundle made the comment that Honda had a year and a half to plan and build their hybrid engine the rest three years.

If Mercedes are contractually obligated to stay until 2020 and perhaps Renault are too, I think that gives Bernie and someone like Cosworth plenty of time to build something that Bernie wants and his promoters. He could even let Mercedes and Renault off the hook earlier than that.

I doubt anyone at Ferrari would complain about a big loud engine formula again. Not too sure about Honda though.

 

The formula is slated to last to 2020. Is MB committed legally to hang around until then?

It would be a shame to see Honda go so quickly but do you see them writing off their current investment and starting over?

 

It wouldn't be the first time a rules change persuaded an engine manufacturer to quit.

In 1965, Coventry Climax, who had been supplying engines to Brabham, Cooper and Lotus, developed a new 16-cylinder engine for an expected continuation of the 1.5-liter formula that was in effect from 1961 thru 1965. And Lotus had built a new chassis (the type 39) to accept it.

So fairly abruptly, the FIA decided to scrap the 1.5-liter formula and go to 3 liters in 1966. (I always suspected that Enzo Ferrari had a hand in that, but I have no proof.) After having sunk quite a bit of money in the new engine project (though I suppose the F1 teams had contributed as well), Climax got fed up with F1 politics and quit, forcing the using teams to quickly find other engines for the new formula. (Brabham went home to Repco in Australia, Cooper found some old Maserati V-12s, and Lotus used their close ties with Ford to order the new Cosworth V-8 that would eventually become the "standard" F1 engine, as the Climax had been before.) The Lotus 39, was, if I recall correctly, converted to a car for the Tasman Series.

 

Mercedes are indeed committed along with numerous others until 2020. If they leave of their own accord I would assume that Bernie gets a cheque from them and if Bernie gets them to leave(along with Renault) he gets to press the reset button.

Another classic Bernie checkmate.

In terms of Honda I think they want the hybrid engine. It would take some miracle to get them to stay and go 'back to the future' as Bernie put it and build something different, but stranger things have happened.

 

I think there are very few companies who can buy a team that size and of that value, especially in a time when viewers are leaving by the trainload!

If they can't find a buyer it's cheaper to close the doors than run another season or 2. Force india finished 6th last year and the year before and are hemorrhaging money. This sport is expensive...

 

Renault will likely take STR off their hands and their is NO way they fold their Red Bull team as a write off.

It has no debt, state of the art facilities and a pretty high calibre of staff.

 

The current rules suck. This is the worst era of F1 by far. At least in 2000s when Ferrari dominated the Williams would take pole occasionally and MS/Hakkinen/Montoya moments were classic. The cars then looked amazing, sounded amazing and were the fastest ever. There was no saving fuel or tires. Are teams even saving money with these regs? How about on engines? Yes I know you go through fewer engines per year now but are development costs and unit costs cheaper than they were in the V10 era? I would not be surprised if they were more expensive.

Even in the Vettel domination era, lots of races were won by Hamilton, Alonso, and Button. It was never a "sure thing" that Vettel was going to win. 2010 and 2012 are classic seasons. Those cars were nothing near as dominant as the Mercedes today. These days the cars are ugly as sin, sound terrible and the racing is a bore. Hamilton is going to walk this title way easier than last year.

This will be the first year I don't really give a damn about F1. I'll watch my favorite tracks, but can't be bothered to watch most races. Wake me up if Ferrari can catch Mercedes at all.

 

You are certainly right, but I guess that would be just a matter of time...Did not RB thought already about building an engine on their own, so maybe loosing the Mercedes and Renault PU might have an impact on one or two seasons but maybe someone different might jump in just as an engine supplier (then we are talking again of VW/Audi)...
Although it does not look to good at the moment I hope that the F1 is not falling apart, because at the moment I have the impression...Looking always for new markets (new race locations) to keep it interesting is a sign of going down as when a company is anxious to find new markets to keep its turnover: it works for a short time but then there is no new market left and they are done...A new F1 race in wherever might be interesting in the beginning as a social event for the country but with a lack of F1 tradition that might be just on short terms

 

All I know is that the Miami ePrix last weekend was WAYYYY more exciting to watch than the F1 Grand Prix. As a life long F1 fan, this is very scary. F1 without the sound needs close racing. F1 without close racing needs the sound. With both, it's magic. With neither, the Formula is doomed

 

The only way you're going to get that kind of parity is a spec series - same chassis, same engines, or at least just a couple, rather like IndyCar.

 

+111

 

I disagree. The entire point of the endless rules manipulations and cost control efforts is to create competition and good wheel to wheel racing. IF the goal is to have 10 teams and 20 cars on the grid for a start, that isn't being met. And, from the sound of things at other teams, the grid may get even smaller. We've had 45 years of racing under the bridge since 1969. Vastly improved in many ways (safety) but, perhaps, less exciting.

Yes, there were some good battles going on down in the midst of the pack, but the front wasn't really much of a race. Mercedes checked out, again. Ho hum. They've clearly figured this formula out. Again. And, good for them. Ferrari and Williams seem to be the best of the rest (and have maybe even narrowed the gap a bit to the Mercs). We'll have to see where the balance of the bunch ends up. But, I want to see good racing FOR THE LEAD and not just the last of the points-paying positions.

But, when Button's car (a "vaunted" McLaren, no less) hasn't been able to hold together for more than twelve consecutive laps before the first race of the season, I'm surprised. And, when two cars can't even make it around for the formation lap, I wonder whether the sport is in trouble. Yes, it'll be fixed by the next race (hopefully), but people are paying to watch a race, and when cars can't even make it around the track once are they going to lose any interest?

I have, steadily, for more than a decade become disenchanted with F1. There are many reasons for that, but the question is whether the decisions that have been (and will be) made have been good (or bad) for the sport. Maybe F1 is in great shape (or feels it is). But, if the teams can't put cars on the grid and/or finish the race (are talking about leaving - empty threats or not - or are in financial distress), I think F1 management needs to step back and consider whether we're on the right track or not.

CW

 

If you want to watch good racing, try out motorcycles just to see if they interest you.

 

Great racing between Honda and Yamaha indeed, but once Marquez gets in the zone, it's hasta la vista baby.

The other riders/bikes often out qualify the big guns but don't have the race pace. Even with the 2-3 different "classes" in MotoGP, there is still excellent racing. I'm not talking about Moto2 or Moto3 btw.