- 06 May 08, 14:50#42501Its another example of money driven F1 by Bernie. I have long said that Bernie should make it easier for the smaller teams to get in and operate at a competitive level.
Reducing costs is one thing and this has been partly addressed, but the whole package now seems to be geared to large organisations. I think that most real fans have a secret (if not open) admiration for the likes of Williams, Force India, and the amount of regret shown for S.As demise shows this. F1 should encourage more independents.
This could be done by allowing more 'restricted' customer cars (restricted in the sense that the 'customer team still has a lot of development work for itself, as opposed to an 'off the shelf' racer.) Customer engines (as now) customer chassis design (but not manufacture) and update data. This still leaves the team with design work to do but with the benefit of big team data / support, in someways like the S/A Honda relationship but on a formalised basis.
I think the there are many organisations willing to come into F1 but where costs prohibit, i.e GP2 teams etc, I also think that Prodrive would be a good team.
However, Bernie has got to look seriously at finding ways to reduce costs for smaller teams, this will increase public interest which will be good for the sport and, ultimately, for Bernie I think.
I still hope that the SA set up can be rescued before it all gets dispersed, however I think it unlikely, unless there is an interested buyer who is waiting for the team to go bust in order to buy it at a knockdown price, without the debt owed to Honda.
F1 will always be expensive because it it a race of constructors, not just drivers in the same cars. However, the more 'independents' the better.
Strive to be fast, strive to be first but, above all, strive to be alive.
Martin
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