4 Ferraris on the grid in 08?

Just a random thought -- isn't there a minimum number of cars required to start a F1 race?

If the manufacturers pull out for an alternate series, might we see 3 or 4 Williams, Ferraris, maybe 12 RBR cars? Any thoughts on that?

 

In the past Bernie made contracts with the local track owners in which he basically sold them a package of 20 cars on the grid. Any cars less and Bernie has to pay (one of the reasons they came up with the $ 50 mio deposit for new teams after the folding March debacle). So yes there is currently a minimum limit (at which we are hovering). Whether that rule still applies after a potential split I don't know.

However the idea of having 3 cars running has been mentioned officially as an alternative way to fill the grid. So with currently 5 teams on for F1 (as opposed to GPMA) your idea of 4 Ferraris isn't that far fetched. Should the split happen, I still think new teams will join, e.g. Aguri Suzuki's team that got denied for 06. So 4 cars might be not a reality, but 3 is imaginable.

 

Bernie once said he would put 3 cars from each of the top 5 teams on the grid if he needed.