Theissen: customer cars will ruin F1

It might work. For years the vast majority of the grid were English built with Cosworth motors

 

Ever since the big guys got into F1 and budgets blossomed to the level they are at now, there has been no such thing as a privateer team achieving real success. I don't see that changing anytime soon, but it will always take a vast amount of money to achieve a fighting chance at a win in F1.

I think Mario is exactly right. Mosley thinks the whole customer program will produce a series that is competitive across all teams. IMO it will never happen. The only series' that this happens in are spec series', or ones where they impose penalties (like restrictor plates or weight penalties) for success. Unless they are willing to do that in F1 (and they should not even think of it), then they ought to give up this BS about trying to completely level the playing field. There will always be four races going on in F1. The top teams battling, the mid-pack teams, and the stragglers. Then of course the constructors across all the teams. Aguri is never ever going to compete with Ferrari or Mercedes no matter what the FIA does, unless they make it a spec series. But why make a spec series when so many exist already. No reason for that and if they keep up this BS, at some point the large OEM's are just going to go to another series where they can do what they want.

 

I'm no fan of customer cars, but if it helps to keep a full field, so be it. I think F1 should be the battlefield of the world's car manufacturers, but not all of them have the gutts to take on that battle.

Customer cars are nothing new btw: I remember in the early eighties a bunch of Williams clones filling up the field. To some degree the Sauber cars were Ferrari clones from the previous year and I'm sure the Toro Rosso cars get some leftover pieces from Redbull. No problem.

Bottom line is: I much rather have a field of 30 cars than 20. We all know that of the cars on the grid only a handful has a chance at the win anyway. But we need the rest to make it look prettier and more interesting.

 

Just as long as its not Ferrari vs. 20 Renaults, its all good. If constructors want to sell them why not let them, we need more mid-pack teams.

 

+1 Indeed as long as its not a field of cars from one manufacturer. Thats all we need is F1 to turn out like Le Mans or ALMS were Porsches litter the field like rats.

 

I'd rather see 8 cars which are all similar in performance and by the end of 300km are still on the same lap battling each other for position(not follow the leader), then have 30 and go back to Pre-qualifying era. (not that it would make any economical sense). Having a full 26car grid and seeing most of the action as overtaking slower cars isnt what I call "exciting" racing. Any time a Top driver is at the back of the grid due to poor qualifying, it doesn't become exciting to watch till he is battling a top8 car for position and really alot of races have become non-events because by the time that driver does make it near the front the race its all over(esp with the change engine 10spot penalty, we have been robbed of many great races because of it).

Maybe what they should with 10laps to go is force the race leader to pit again. Monaco 91, Mansell pitting late in the race, with a far supierior Williams , tried everything in the book to overtake Senna, it was nailbiting edge of seat stuff!!(i was going for mansell at the time!! haha) Even tho Monaco is notorious for follow the leader racing, it was great racing!! Because it was for the win not for 17th!!

Most ppl dont tune in to watch Torro Rosso battle it out with Midland for 18th position, no matter what people say. Watching them battling for 18th position isnt as exciting as watching Schumie battlling Kimi for the win.

Big grids are better for people that actually goto the Grandprixes then TV(just to have something to look at then 1min 30secs of nothing, mid race). Having gone to over half a dozen GP's myself, I want to see as much F1 circulating as possible during the 3days but at the same time, its just something to fill the void(the sound of the F1 motors is the most en-joyful/painful noise ever created!! No earplugs for me!! ), The only racing Im interested in seeing is at the front of the field and of course seeing a Mclaren breaking down/crashing out!

Customer cars is to fill voids not to create more exciting racing.

PS: Happy Bday for tomorrow Schumie!! We miss you

 

I have no problem seeing someone buy last year's cars and run them, just as they did in the 60's and 70's, IMO we actually need that - IF it can be kept affordable.

On the flip side, there needs to be limits - I sure don't want to see another 1973 Indy 500 where about every car was a Gurney Eagle, or the Indy 500 1983-88 where every car was a March of some sort.

 

I don't see that as ever becoming a problem: This year's factory car will always beat last year's spec car. That's why I don't have an issue with such cars a fillers to give us a full field. They're just there to entertain the spectators by once in a while taking a leading car out.

Remember Schlesser vs Senna in Monza? Now that was fun!

 

Except Schlesser was not in 'last year's car'.
I love Senna, but he should have been a wee bit more careful - everyone knows the french don't know how to drive.
As it was, he was punted off, and two strange red cars whizzed by to finish 1-2.

 

True, but the way he was driving I dont think that would have made a difference.