FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Rivelution]

I really dont agree with Fry, though I think it would be nice to have more car manufacturers in F1.

Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry believes Formula 1 should concentrate on enticing more car manufacturers into the sport rather than filling up the grid with independent teams. The demise of Honda-supported Super Aguri last week for financial reasons reduced the number of cars on the grid to 20, with fears that it could soon fall by another two following Red Bull’s decision to put Toro Rosso up for sale.Should this happen, there would be just three independently-owned teams left on the grid: Williams, Force India and the main Red Bull squad – but Fry insists F1’s main concern shouldn’t be to protect a strong privateer force. Instead he believes the sport should be looking to get the major worldwide car makers currently outside of F1 to field teams which will be on the grid for the long term.“The first question to answer is, ‘Is F1 any place for a not-very-well funded privateer team?’” he told Autosport magazine. “In this sport, there is a history of teams working at the margins that invariably fall off the bottom, and I think it will ever be so. “The real mission for F1 is to attract a Volkswagen, an Audi or another big consumer business into the sport and not attempt to bring in more privateers, who may end up in the same position as teams like Arrows and Prost. “Privateer teams enter on the basis that they can afford the first season – but invariably can’t generate the revenue to continue into their second or third years. “If you can’t afford to compete, you shouldn’t be here.” Fry’s views, however, are not shared by two fellow F1 bosses.

Mario Theissen, and Christian Horner give their opinion too, but dont agree with Fry. Here's the full story
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42655

[phren]

Does a minority shareholding in the company mean that the team is not an independant? Mercedes do not have a majority share holding position in McLaren. They may be the majority shareholders but not even close to 49.5 that is required. McLaren are still an independant in my eyes. It's still the TAG group that call the shots. It's all a bit simplistic to call for Factory ownership. To call Red Bull an independant is a bit of a long shot. It intimates that any corporation with enough money can be a garargesta. A bit of a laugh really. Only Williams retain that kind of mystique and even with the best will in the world once Frank goes some Factory will buy them up.
The days of the garage team are over. The days of the solid independants may be numbered but I for one hope it never ends.

[UKGTR34]

I agree with the quote, any private company wishing to enter Formula 1 must have funds and a plan in place to run for many seasons. Personally I think what is the point in the privateers racing if they are 3-5 seconds off the pace, the team doesn't offer any attraction for the viewer other than the odd rolling road block when being lapped! I would like to see other major car manufacturers enter teams such as Audi & VW. They are more likely to affect results nearer the top of the grid an make the mid field race even more competitive. My two pees worth!

[7UpJordan]

Fry can go play Nazi orgies with Max Mosley for those stupid comments. First he sticks his nose in the Super Aguri affairs and now wants to see the end of one of the big things that put F1 on the map in the first place, independent runners.

Thiessen's damn right on what he said about independents playing a big part, he may be the boss of a manufacturer team but definately knows what he is talking about.

[McLaren Fan]

Fry can go play Nazi orgies with Max Mosley for those stupid comments. First he sticks his nose in the Super Aguri affairs and now wants to see the end of one of the big things that put F1 on the map in the first place, independent runners.

Thiessen's damn right on what he said about independents playing a big part, he may be the boss of a manufacturer team but definately knows what he is talking about.

Hear, hear!

[8-ball]

It is getting harder and harder for privateers to enter the sport due to the soaring costs and I don't see the point of entering of you are going to be a back marker. I will bet anyone the vijay mallya will get bored of F1 and the lack of success with the team and it will be sold again in a couple of years. It pains me to say it but the days of privateers are numbered

[al4x]

It is getting harder and harder for privateers to enter the sport due to the soaring costs and I don't see the point of entering of you are going to be a back marker. I will bet anyone the vijay mallya will get bored of F1 and the lack of success with the team and it will be sold again in a couple of years. It pains me to say it but the days of privateers are numbered

yeah, ed bull have a specific product, car=advert as it does for renault, merc, bmw etc

but force india, sa, etc theres just no point, its not for glory, but mony

[bud]

F1 has always been about "privateers" what id prefer to call "race teams"over the corporate machines who use F1 as a platform for selling family cars.

the day F1 is just car manufacturers racing car manufacturers will be a sad day indeed! which is not too far away at all

[Forti_Corse]

well an all manufacturers grid, this was done in the 90's in the BTCC anyone remember TOCA on the playstation>? now its just turned vice versa for privateers like the team halfords hondas etc.

formula one needs to get back to basics and start making everything uniform again. i dont really dissagree with manufacturers dominating the grid....they have a purpose as to why they race. privateers just do it for the thrill on the bottom line.

and the only reason McLaren, Williams have lasted so long as privateers is simple, they developed their teams before F1 really got political and expensive, plus the fact their the foundations of what F1 is today. theres just no possible way for a private team to rise up the grid in todays F1 world.

and force india? pfft its just a matter of time till vijay is sent back to bollywood with enough change to fly jetstar

[Rivelution]

F1 has always been about "privateers" what id prefer to call "race teams"over the corporate machines who use F1 as a platform for selling family cars.

the day F1 is just car manufacturers racing car manufacturers will be a sad day indeed! which is not too far away at all

I think a grid full of car manufacturers will be awesome just because I want to see the diversity of cars, and engines. I think Privateers still need to be in F1, but costs are just tooo much now.

[Martin]

It is harder and harder for privateers, but I don't agree with Fry. Its probably no more difficult for a privateer to set up, with major commercial sponsors like Vodaphone or West or whomever, than it is to entice VW or Audi or Peugeot in. For status reasons these companies would probably not want to come in with a new team. They could look at Toyota as an example, and at BMW as an example of of the benefits of taking over an existing team. So it needs privateers for the manufacturers to take over, they just want the quick way in.
Its all about sponsors, if a big (non motor) company wanted to get into F1, to provide finance for an independent would be the way in.
I am surprised that one of the oil giants is not more involved - like Esso for example.
Peugeot is a name not often mentioned with F1, but they do have major, successful, teams in other forms of motor sport.

[madbrad]

Speaking as a privateer, I retort to Fry's statement by saying that F1 doesn't need more Nick Frys, or even the one it has now for that matter.

[al4x]

It is harder and harder for privateers, but I don't agree with Fry. Its probably no more difficult for a privateer to set up, with major commercial sponsors like Vodaphone or West or whomever, than it is to entice VW or Audi or Peugeot in. For status reasons these companies would probably not want to come in with a new team. They could look at Toyota as an example, and at BMW as an example of of the benefits of taking over an existing team. So it needs privateers for the manufacturers to take over, they just want the quick way in.
Its all about sponsors, if a big (non motor) company wanted to get into F1, to provide finance for an independent would be the way in.
I am surprised that one of the oil giants is not more involved - like Esso for example.
Peugeot is a name not often mentioned with F1, but they do have major, successful, teams in other forms of motor sport.

good point with the fuel company

bp/esso/shell

could really be a decent ad for the company

[bernification]

It's getting harder and harder for privateers to exist; without them in the past we would have had no Lotus, no Brabham, McLaren, Jordan, Tyrell.
Each one of them unique, with people and designers who have pushed automotive technology.

I don't know what the future holds, but as stated earlier, when Sir Frank retires, that will be it.

And that will be a sad day

[darwin dali]

It is harder and harder for privateers, but I don't agree with Fry. Its probably no more difficult for a privateer to set up, with major commercial sponsors like Vodaphone or West or whomever, than it is to entice VW or Audi or Peugeot in. For status reasons these companies would probably not want to come in with a new team. They could look at Toyota as an example, and at BMW as an example of of the benefits of taking over an existing team. So it needs privateers for the manufacturers to take over, they just want the quick way in.
Its all about sponsors, if a big (non motor) company wanted to get into F1, to provide finance for an independent would be the way in.
I am surprised that one of the oil giants is not more involved - like Esso for example.
Peugeot is a name not often mentioned with F1, but they do have major, successful, teams in other forms of motor sport.

good point with the fuel company

bp/esso/shell

could really be a decent ad for the company

Shell is in it knee-deep...