Porsche explain why F1 does not work for them. Rational and simple. Would have been interesting but Porsche does not need F1. Porsche explains F1 snub | Planet F1 | Formula One | News, Standings, Results, Features, Video
It's a shame, but the way F1 is at present (tyres ect) it has plenty of reasons to go at why it is not a good idea for them. Whether the reasons given are true or not.
Personally, I'd like to see Ferrari back in sports car racing/LeMans, more than seeing Porsche in F1.
Ferrari are already heavily involved in sports car racing albeit in the GT divisions. As Giuseppe Risi told us at a media event in the Risi Competizione paddock at Sebring, the 458 GT cars in ALMS and Le Mans are already virtual prototypes themselves and Maranello is very happy with things as they are currently. To get into the LMP-1 echelons, manufacturers must come loaded for bear against Audi and Toyota who've already spent beyond F-1 budgets to prove their technologies such as hybrid, alternative fuels, KERS, lightweight bodywork, four wheel drive, etc. Porsche is coming to LMP-1 with a hybrid and if history shows us anything, Porsche does not get into the top levels of racing unless they have a decided advantage in the rules going into the deal. Porsche has looted F-1 engineers and talent away from F-1. And, of course, they want to prove new technologies that will be passed down to their road cars. Aside from the hybrid, Porsche are going to be coming with something revolutionary that no one will see coming, guaranteed. BHW Image Unavailable, Please Login
F1 is for soft drink companies and sweater knitters... Porsche made the correct decision. Little to gain,... and a whole lot to lose. I too would love to see Ferrari LMP cars. But w/o dropping formula 1 the would likely not have the budget to go head to head with Audi. Not to mention it would be a PR mess to not be competitive,... and that would likely take years.
This is the smartest move for Porsche, no doubt, but when a manufacturer explains its reasons for not entering F1, I always think about the fox and the grapes.
Porsche achieved great success in F1 with their turbos but bombed with their V-12. Can't disagree with Matz's comments about the aero technology not being transferable to the road cars-LdM has been saying that for some time. I laughed when Matz said that Porsche "is a sportscar company". Not so much anymore, but still the technology regarding engines, trannies, etc. learned from racing can be applied to all vehicles regardless of body style. As for technology being transferable to road cars, one could argue that Audi is on the right track with their sportscar racing program. Hybrid diesels is the way to go IMHO. I wish Alfa would get into sportscar racing-using existing Ferrari F1 tech know how would be a good start.
Who can blame them? Why would you want to spend hundreds of millions just to have your engines frozen and restricted? What is there to gain?
If history is any guide, when Porsche starts to dominate they change the rules and/or add weight to take away the Porsche advantage. So the Pcar "advantage" may be short-lived indeed. IMSA and the 962 comes to mind.
I think Porsche's move to stay away from F1 is smart. Fortifying its image in endurance racing is the choice that I'd take as well.
Porsche has never really been sucessful in F-1, Turbo engines excepted for McLaren in the 80's... they won one race with Dan Gurney, and the V-12 in the 90's was a complete disaster with Arrows. where as in Sports Car racing they are THE name. Its where they belong. Given that Audi and Porsche are all the same company now - it will be interesting. the only VW marque that has any F-1 relevance is Bugatti.
Have seen (and more) the Porsche LMP1 car. Typical Porsche in that it is good-but it will not dominate against Toyota and Audi. Will be a good three way fight with Porsche in there now.
Exactly. Porsche are explaining this because there is constant rumor about VW/Porsche entering F1. Clearly Porsche explained their focus concisely. What about the statement leads to conspiracy. Zero.
f1 should go back to more driver involvement in the cars. the car plays too much of a role in who wins.
Only two ways of doing that, as far as I can see. 1.) Every car is identical. 2.) Get rid of aero. Neither will ever happen.
Or maybe it's because after spending untold millions on an F1 program, they don't want to get spanked by Mercedes.
There's no guarantee of success in F1 even for mighty Porsche who's pockets aren't as deep as the rest of the automakers involved. Why risk it?
I cannot see an upside. Porsche's history is in sports cars, and it makes a damn fine sports car. Porsche already sells every car it makes. It has nothing to gain. Mark
Exactly. So, when you are asked this question a million times, instead of saying you might get spanked and criticized for years so why try, you say there's no point. End of discussion. I agree it isn't worth it. Merc got in easy by buying Braun. Building a team from scratch (aka like Toyota) is the toughest road to bear. The financial deck is tilted in Ferrari's favor so that doesn't help the bottom line.
Corporate vanity is the most common reason for entering F1. I get the impression that Porsche is beyond that when it comes to racing. Porsche has had great success in Motorsport not just through engineering but strategy. Picking your battle can be half the fight.
I think Porsche of the sports car world is like Ferrari in the F1 world and sometimes receives preferential treatment, as it should.
