I love that idea It's almost a 2 tiered system now with how some teams have the money and others don't. It would give us innovation in F1 again. It would provide an entry level for new teams and new drivers. Maybe even drivers that have talent instead of just a bunch of money (Maldonado).
I saw where it was leaked from Sauber that $119 mil was the minimum budget for F1. Great new rule changes.:frown2:
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And, as someone pointed out elsewhere, since this is really about changing the technical regulations rather than the sporting regs it would ensure an entry level for engineers and designers. One of the problems that would arise from customer cars, and therefore customer teams, is you lose the minnow teams learning how to build their own cars and bringing in new talent. Think of Minardi and Arrows and Jordan, etc, who also gave entry to the sport to many of the big name drivers. I think that's already gradually fading away.
I wonder if most of the problem is that the bigger teams score many more championship points and as a result they get much more F1 money than the smaller teams. It would be interesting to say that every team gets the same slice of the F1 cake/income, or at least less money tied to championship points. But the big teams won't agree to that.
Ah, drama. Where would F1 be without it? F1 is deliberately driving small teams out, claims Force India's Fernley (racer.com)
Have no desire to see F1 become a five or six team series... Silly season is just that but this is getting a bit ridiculous.
I agree. They need to do something a bit drastic and I think the solution they choose will either nail the coffin lid shut for those of us still following along or make it much more interesting (though I'd expect it to take a while to turn around fully). Seems like it's one or the other with any middle ground solution only postponing inevitable demise. Unfortunately, Bernie and the profit-taking CVS are in charge and their perspective is on big company teams, glamor, and "the show", all for the sake of maximum profits and regardless of the nature of the sport itself.
**SPOILER ALERT** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosberg takes pole for the ninth time this season. After leading all three practice sessions, Lewis Hamilton loses out to teammate Nico Rosberg in qualifying. Pos. No. Driver Team 1 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 3 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams 4 19 Felipe Massa Williams 5 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 6 14 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 7 20 Kevin Magnussen McLaren 8 22 Jenson Button McLaren 9 7 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 10 99 Adrian Sutil Sauber 11 13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 12 11 Sergio Perez Force India 13 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 14 26 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 15 25 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 16 21 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 17 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 18 8 Romain Grosjean Lotus 19
No spoiler here. Don't think I heard this during the quali broadcast but just read Ferrari considered going to Alonso's 6th engine and starting from pit lane like Vettel. Though they decided against it, seems like they must have thought his engine is near borderline for the race.
Interesting strategy. Using old engines running with a power deficit for Austin and Brazil in order to save a newer engine for the last race (while also avoiding grid place penalties). Alonso pleased with P6 given engine power deficit (motosportstalk.nbcsport.com)
I heard a rumor that three or more of the midfield teams are threatening to boycott the rest of the races this season to protest how the money and rules are done.
Lotus said no boycott, they are there to race. The Engine thing at Ferrari, yeah...that sorta stuff is ruining F1 for me. Alonso basically said, yeah, screw it, save the motor, we suck anyway. I don't feel as if I'm missing anything not watching this stuff on TV.
I find it interesting that he's as fast with his old, down on power engine as he is with a new fresh one. No matter, he's a 5th/6th place car.... Wonderful track, it's on my bucket list to drive it someday - better happen soon tho, I'm not getting any younger!
https://www.thedriversedge.net/ has a date or two a year there. First Class operation too. Well worth looking into.