Only by a narrow margin was Mercedes-Benz's continued presence in Formula One approved by the marque's parent board, a report on Sunday claimed. The German news magazine Focus said Dieter Zetsche, Daimler AG Chief Executive, recently asked the management board to vote on whether Mercedes should prolong its 13-year collaboration with 2008 drivers' world champions McLaren. Mercedes-Benz is currently McLaren's largest shareholder, and has supplied works engines to the Woking-based team since 1995. Amid the global financial crisis, speculation continues that other carmakers will follow Honda in withdrawing from the expensive sport. Focus claims that the management board's vote tallied three votes to two, meaning that for now Daimler AG remains committed to Formula One. The same magazine, however, said BMW might rethink its BMW Sauber-branded F1 programme upon completion of the quest to win the title, theoretically at the end of this year. F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone recently said he is pressing for the manufacturers to commit contractually to the sport long-term. I really hope Honda was the last pullout of F1...
Money devoted to F1 could go a long way elsewhere especially when you're not selling cars like you used to. Sounds like F1 could collapse if car sales continue on a downward slide for much longer.
Turning F1 into a manufacturer-based (as opposed to constructor-based) series was a great idea...when the economy is golden and the money is flowing. Yet another Bernie/Max "oops".
It's time for F1 in its current iteration under Bernie & Max to fade away. The sooner the big manufacturers leave the sport, the sooner we will get back to serious teams producing real racing. Today's F1 is simply a marketing exercise for the big brands with a few "filler" teams subsidized to flesh out the fields. It currently inconceivable that any more than two teams are seriously ever in contention to win a race. That's not racing. That 's WWF in cars.
It sucks that teams are pulling out, but I have been very entertained by since I started regularly watching F1 two years ago
Quite the story, Brian. And this from a manufacturer who has a likely chance of attaining both titles. Imho, Honda won't be lonely.
This is indeed scary times for both F1 and motorsports in general. I can only hope that most teams stick it out, and do whatever they can to reduce costs. Hopefully things will flourish again, soon.
I really do not see F1 existing in its current state with the current economic state. I can see Williams, Renault, and some of the small teams possibly/probably dropping out in the next few years.
Maybe manufacturares do need to go. How is Williams surviving? We've never heard Frank saying he'll quit the sport. Then there's Honda that withdraws after years of unfruitful spending. If Mercedes is considering their participation after clinching last year's WDC title, how commited will they be when the are not as successful. F1 needs teams that will stay for the long run, and probably those are not manufactureres (excluding Ferrari of course)
If Mercedes' sales in the US have dropped by almost 40% IIRC, and by 25% in Europe, then it's merely a decision as to whether they get a good return on their investment, which I would not be surprised to see them or BMW pull out by 2010. Every time Bernie and Max make major changes to the rules and regs, it costs a boatload of cash for them to change and adapt. The biggest risk is that some new group of regulations will change in the next year or two, and Mercedes may just decide that they've had enough of F1. I can't say I'd blame them either. I could see Renault doing the same thing, although they may end up running the programme under the Nissan flag.
Ey if it wasn't for the big manufacturers coming in then just think this website wouldn't even excist. Lets not forget how Ferrari started. If anything Very BIG car manufacturers would be better because they would have the funds, for example Porsche. They made £7billion last year from buying VW alone.
They did although this was not selling car's and IIRC done in debatable manner, certainly not legal in the UK.
No it wasn't legal in the UK, but it was legal in Germany. Did you watch that program about Porsche buying VW a couple of weeks ago? If not you can't watch it on iplayer anymore because it was on more than 7 days ago but heres a BBC article on it, if anyones intrested? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7843262.stm
I think that if we had a grid full of non-factory related teams, it would be seriously diminished now - small private teams run out of money MUCH quicker than the big companies...
I'll be amazed if we don't see 2 more teams fold this year... FI > STR > Renault > Toyota I suspect MB has been given a year. Can BMW be far behind? IMHO after ferrari.... RBR and Williams are the most likely to stay...
..all doom & gloom now right....been there done that & F1 always gets bigger & better ( well uhm ..traction control, no slicks & less down force aside that is..) !!! ...can't wait for the 09 season to get started..been a long time since F1 cards ran slicks
I think it will depend on how much better or worse the economy gets. If we tread water and stay roughly where we are now, we will be lucky to see the end of the 09 season with all teams on the grid. If things get worse, then I can definitely see Renault and Force India pulling the plug. I can also see Matsechitz (or however it's spelled) dumping one of his teams for a song (he's already trying to), and I can see whomever buys it not seeing out a year in F1. If things get worse, I absolutely think Toyota, Mercedes and BMW would bail from F1. I think McLaren and Williams would stay, but may have to scale back their efforts.
I enjoy auto racing but I've had a lot of trouble getting into F1. I've stayed up until 3am to watch races from start to finish so I feel like I've given it a fair chance. The races aren't very exciting and I feel like the cars are being held back. I want to see heavy 1200+ hp V12 cars going against light 700hp turbo v8 cars. With a lot of passing, variable strategy, and less predictability.
