Comments on: Toyota pullout starts shivers in F1, now Renault discussing possible exit

By: Nicollers

Nicollers — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:19:53 +0000

My bad, it was Tadashi Yamanashi! Sorry….

By: Cliff

Cliff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:03:37 +0000

The £40m cap was never a bad idea. It was how it was to be imposed and monitored by the FIA. There was no consultation,just a take it or leave from Max. Also, I believe that it meant that the teams would have to open up their books to the FIA. I suspect many companies outside F1 would have a problem with that side of the deal! Williams and Force India signed up to it for various reasons, but you should also remember that this is the sort of deal they would need to remain in F1, not to mention any existing contracts they have that locks them into FOM & the FIA. So yes, £40m cap – good idea, implentation badly handled.

By: Tim L

Tim L — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:49:39 +0000

Max gets his way one last tiem

By: CD

CD — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:47:14 +0000

I always thought Toyota were a bit dull and boring, but I’m sad to see them go. They’ve just realised they have Star quality in Kobayashi and a car with potential.I’d be crying too.
I wonder how much money they wasted on Ralf?

By: john g

john g — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:57:40 +0000

totally agree. F1 to go from having 6 big manufacturers to potentially 2, in as many years is going to be a big shock, and cannot fail to devalue F1. so mclaren and ferrari beat campos meta, or team america. so what? they’ll race boring races in countries with no interest. and for what?

it’s a mistake to thinking that it’s fantastic that the manufacturers are leaving en mass, and letting independants in. they are simply jumping from a sinking ship. and it’s the FIA rather than them, that’s in control.

i really do see some other form of racing becoming the top flight in the next 5 years. you need manufacturers for public interest. FIA series WRC, WTCC, BTCC etc have seen manufacturers leave. and what’s happened to audience figures? if it carries on teh way it’s going, F1 will have withered in a few years, and if it happens, i won’t miss what it will have become.

By: Olivier

Olivier — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:41:32 +0000

Renault could easily do a Mercedes with RBR. I wonder why the Mercedes business model has not been adopted by the other manufacturers?: No fuzz about sustaining an elaborate workforce. Just focus on the engine and make it as economical & powerful as possible. Let the teams do the racing.

I am quite excited by the prospect of no refuelling. The cars with the most economical engine will have the smallest fuel tank and thus be the slimmest, lightest & the most aerodynamic!

On a side note: I wouldn’t like to see Webber being replaced by Kubica.

By: Brace

Brace — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:20:28 +0000

I can’t figure out how come “Lotus” was selected instead of Sauber for an extra slot?

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:02 +0000

Interesting few months ahead when we have a raft of teams that have a licences to race but we are not sure that they will make the grade and we have a team who are definitely able to race, have history and capability but made the mistake of not signing the Concord agreement.

The situation F1 is in is one of turning away teams who can race and risking slots on those that might race… weird

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:09:01 +0000

there is a slight difference in price of a bottom of the range Ferrari to a bottom of the range Yaris!

By: George

George — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:18:51 +0000

KERS was never a very good idea for road cars, and it’s not banned anyway, FOTA just decided between themselves not to use it.

F1 has been struggling to become more environmentally friendly for a while, they use biofuel for example. There’s a limit to what they can do though and still keep the sport respectable.