There is some national pride in F1 racing. I think the Italians would like their engineering staff to be run by Italians. Look at Haas. I think most in the US who know F1 feel it's a British company backed by a US firm. Is it really American? Well, not like the Eagle Westlake was.
Anyone would look good with access to the 3D prints of ferrari parts, ferrari engines and factory techs showing them how to make it run. Give them a Renault engine and no help, they would be the same as any lower midfielder. Sorry, but it’s how it is
Well the last time Ferrari had an Italian WDC driver was 1953. Ferrari has a very high nationalist pride in keeping the team as Italian as possible. Nothing wrong with that, but northern Europe seems to have the drivers and often the managers. For the future, I'm betting on Leclerc.
Only thing American about Eagle was Gurney and the money. it was an English based team at the beginning. Len Terry and Harry Westlake both brits.... but it was a cool looking car!
Assuming Ferrari have great pace this weekend, I really hope they won't let us down with some dodgy pit strategies.
Well, AAR was not 'English based team' - Dan hired Len and the eagle F1 cars were penned and build at AAR in Santa Ana California. All the exotic metal parts (the titanium exhuast, the magnesium skins) were all done by US suppliers. They obviously needed a UK or continental base of ops for the the F1 season, which is what they setup in Rye, Sussex. It was a cosmopolitan effort as are most F1 teams, but I don't think the American identity and contribution needs to be constantly challenged.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the chassis of the initial Eagle F1 car was common to the first Eagle Indycar too. I remember reading that was the brief from Gurney to Len Terry. AAR didn't last long in F1, unfortunately; Dan Gurney lost his backers and decided to concentrate on Indy, where he did well. It was F1 loss, because it was a valiant effort, and the car is still probably the best looking F1 ever, IMO.
