I think the rules say if the numbers drop below a certain point the other teams are required to field three cars. Even so, he would have trouble getting any of them to do it. Some have said the 2015 season is already too close for them to scale up and at least one said they wouldn't do it unless Bernie throws them some money to pay for it.
If he thinks the fall-back option is to move up Haas' schedule, my guess is it could only happen if he's willing to both 1) throw a BIG sack of money at Haas and 2) figure out a way to allow them to team up even closer with Ferrari than planned, almost to the point where it's really Ferrari building four cars and Haas otherwise fielding them with a different livery. Ferrari probably wouldn't be willing to do it (maybe wouldn't be able to do it) anyway. I don't think even Bernie would try to force that to happen, it would be harder than getting all the other teams to each field three cars.....and, you know, there's that big sack of money.
It's Bernie's contract that states the 3 car thing.
I agree it's too short of notice for 3 cars. Yes, Bernie would have to twist some arms to allow Haas to use a custom car. I don't think a bunch of money could have a new car ready, but I could be wrong.
Yeah, I was thinking of money to buy customer cars (presumably from Ferrari since they're already contractually linked at the hip) and to rush the setting up of the team and related infrastructure. I don't see it happening for a number of reasons, just trying to guess what Bernie might need to fund if he wanted to make it happen.
I don't think Haas would hate the idea altogether. After all, it's sort of what he said he wanted to do back when he was still shooting for a 2015 start. Said he wanted to buy a full chassis from someone like Dallara and partner very closely with an engine supplier and spend the first year just participating and learning the ropes and move on to building their own car later. It's just too late in the season unless he can buy the whole car from an established team...or take over one of the back-markers.....
It breaks down how much money it costs per year to have a paid subscription to a service that broadcasts F1, by nation.
Most people have to pay hundreds of dollars a year to get access to a race, including those of us in the States. I don't have a cable subscription myself, which is why I couldn't watch any race at all if I didn't have other means.
Dumb, imo. It should be on the OTA networks if they want to regain the audience, or have cheap high quality streaming for those of us who would rather use a 21st Century viewing apparatus rather than the last century methods.
If they put an F1 channel on my Apple TV (or roko, or chromecast, whatever) that I could pay a modest yearly subscription for, I'd do it. A la cart streaming is the future. Hell, it's the present but a lot of people don't realize it.
F1Today.net has had sources reveal to them that Hamilton visited the Woking base three weeks ago to sign for the team starting from next season. The source said: "Lewis was in the Woking factory three weeks ago. He arrived by helicopter, had a conversation about two hours with the management and then left with a big smile on his face. He signed here, I can assure you. A seat fitting has not happened yet, but that will take place in the foreseeable future."
I'm watching practice 1 at Sochi. It's the first good look I've had and it looks like it's flat as a board; little to no elevation change on a nearly 6 km track.
Charlie Whiting's report on Bianchi's incident is already in Jean Todt's hands. I don't imagine the full report will ever be released to the public but, based on things I'm reading today, signs of the investigative team's thoughts are emerging through statements by Whiting in press conference.
More careful use of tractors and possible changes to procedures are being discussed but it seems like most of his comments center around slowing cars under yellow flag conditions.
CW: "Decision to slow down should be taken away from drivers. Meeting with teams tomorrow morning to discuss that."
Apparently something automatic and akin to pit lane speed limiters is being discussed as one option.
That should go over like a lead balloon with the GPDA who've cautioned against knee-jerk reactions.
I agree. But I also know the trouble with the "punish the guilty" logic is it happens post-incident, and where safety is concerned post-incident can be after a disaster like Bianchi's. For all I know, the telemetry, etc, may show he slowed the least of all drivers and he was the most likely to have deserved punishment. I agree, though, that taking sudden control of the speed of cars from race control or via computers blindly controlled by telemetry is a horrible idea that can cause more harm than good.
Looks like I fell into the trap of listening to attention-whore sensationalist media types who were quick to post up only the juiciest bits, out of context.
Having read something that looks a bit more complete (below), I'd say despite the fact Whiting said "grand prix racing needs to find a system where the speed of cars when double yellows are out is controlled by the FIA, rather than relying on drivers to do what they think is best", there is a chance somewhat more intelligent solutions are in the works. Taking the decision out of the hands of the drivers may come in the form of better signaling and specifying more specific, and perhaps more significant, required deltas and then letting the drivers figure out how to comply...maybe.
F1: FIA plans yellow flag speed limits (racer.com)
F1: More Bianchi crash details revealed (racer.com)
There should never be cars racing on any part of the racetrack when there are safety vehicles and safety workers on any part of the racetrack. Case closed, it had nothing to do with when the race started or if it was raining or not. Had a full course caution with a pace car been out until the tractor had left the track, Bianchi would be talking about and preparing for the Russian GP.
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