From Autosport.com http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72994 Bernie Ecclestone has proposed that Formula One's manufacturers be allowed more freedom to spend in exchange for making a long-term commitment to the sport. After the dramatic cost cuts agreed earlier this month, and amid continued suggestions that budget caps could be part of F1's future, Ecclestone suggested efforts to reduce teams' expenditure could be in vain as the manufacturers would always find ways to spend money - and that therefore they should simply be allowed to spend as they pleased provided they remained in the championship. "I always said we should give all those fancy engineers gold-plated consoles and send them off somewhere to play," Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph. "That's all they do anyway and it would be far cheaper. We could get the real job done. "If the manufacturers are prepared to make a long-term commitment, say seven to 10 years, we should let them spend what they want to spend, providing they supply engines and gearboxes at an affordable price. "Whether they will commit to that I don't know. Getting them to agree on anything has always been the problem. But if they did it would prevent the kind of thing we have seen with Honda because we could sue the arse off them if they left. They wouldn't like that." Ecclestone also feels that the controversial Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems are an unwise move in the current financial climate. "I have always been against KERS," he said. "Whatever they use in F1 they won't use in a road car, but if that is to be the idea then why not develop it in touring cars. It costs a lot of money when we are trying to save it." But he remains bullish about the prospects for the new season, even though the field could shrink to 18 cars if Honda Racing are not saved. "We are not pessimistic in the slightest," Ecclestone said. "Nine teams won't make any difference. It is about drivers, not teams."
Well, they pretty-much had a one-engine series when Cosworth was competitive, but the powers-that-be didn't do anything at all to limit the turbos, so Cosworth was forced out. Now they pretty-much want a Cosworth-type of 'spec motor' series to run the show (?) I'd LIKE to say no, it's not about the drivers, it's about the teams, but they let Brabham, Lotus, Tyrrell, Ligier, Alfa, March, Arrows etc. go away, so maybe it IS all about the drivers.. We need more James Hunt and Nigell Mansell types, and we had a couple with JPM and JV, and you guys ROASTED them.
+1 I'm so tired of the PR trained robots who just tout the company line. At least guys like Kimi, Vettel and Alonso sometimes tell it like it is.
Sometimes I have a hard time deciding what the sport should be. Like you said, F1 enjoyed some great years with almost everyone running the same engines. It's supposed to be the pinnacle of motor sports and technology, but these days a lot of those developments are microscopic in recognition yet monstrous in cost. And the faster the cars become, the less that wheel to wheel racing is possible. The nostalgic part of me misses the days when a dozen or more chassis arrived at the opener, each completely different from the others. Same for the drivers.
It seems to me that this plan would be effective with factory teams only. What practical redress would they have for a small team that just went belly up? Sure you could sue Fiat, Mercedes or BMW but what about a team like Williams? It seems that Bernie has, in effect, dismissed the independents.
If Bernie wants to run a spec series, let him dig up TV coverage for GP2, and let those "silly" engineers build race cars for F1. Or maybe just spin off a new series that runs on European tracks and doesn't charge drivers 200K euros for doing well (for "safety"). Bernie may have built up F1, but now he's running it back into the ground. They've tried every change except the one they need: No more BernieMax.
Bernie. Stay with your area of expertise. Making beautiful daughters. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I think Ecclestone is getting pressure from the owners of F-1 to make sure they turn a profit. why else have a contract for people who want to participate in F-1... as for Cosworth - yes back in the 70's you had a lot of Cosworth teams, however anybody who could buy one could run in an F-1 race... not like today where just because you have an engine gear box deal does that mean you can race in F-1... you still have to build your car from scratch software etc... in the 70's you could buy an old Lotus, or Williams, or Arrows and go racing... even during the Turbo years private guys could race... now its so expensive to just show up you cant. I really think F-1 is dying fast... I thought I would never see this happen, but Greedy guys like Bernie and the team owners have made their bed... hope they get a good night sleep... cause they are going to need it. As for F-1 being about Drivers???? WTF... he is high.
No, Bernie must be concerned that some folks will either drop, or split off. And, sure - anyone that could buy a Cosworth could race - that's the whole point. IIRC the first Williams was really a March, and again, is anything wrong with that ? Remember - the point I am trying to make is we need enough cars to make the grid, we don't need to be scaring off anyone beyond the 10th place cars, and that's what is happening. I'll keep asking: would any of you bet your house on anybody to win a race outside of a Ferrari, McLaren or maybe BMW Sauber ? Didn't think so. A 4-car series is not good for the sport, look what it did to Can-Am. I'm not saying every car must be capable of winning - under the right circumstances some 'tail-enders' can win, but we need 8-10 cars that, if they won, folks would not be totally shocked. We don't have that today.
He's appearing to give the teams something in exchange for locking them in to a tight contract. I'd be surprised if any of the teams fall for it.
