Someone will always have a 'works' engine, is the Merc PU really better than the one they give Williams, or is it just a case of Merc know the engine better because they built it with certain ideas in mind which they kept to themselves? for example, Jos Verstappen had the TC software in his car, but was ignorant of it, so never used it, unlike Schumacher. Then we have the proprietary fuels designed specifically for the engine that the other Merc PU teams don't have. It's a hard rule to enforce fairly because, in truth, the only really 'fair' way is to disallow the use of any parts beyond the specified limit, so once you've used them up, that's it, you no longer race. Docking team points is a no go some teams may be inclined to start changing PU's every week in a bid to get the WDC.
Which is fine as long as the " Big " teams are there , and supporting the smaller teams while it suits them .. They will see the small teams go to the wall , they will then move on , as manufacturers always have ( Except Ferrari ) , then what ?
Yep, that's why they introduced the allowance system because they couldn't police a budget cap. Like I said in my original post I'm in agreement with the principle of restrictions, it just needs amending. I'm for time penalties rather than a 50 grid place penalty myself, but I understand that its not straight forward. I just think we either have to accept a works team led championship with unlimited spend and have a manufacturers championship and an independent championship, or we have to get a system in place that levels the performance gains and associated costs.
Looks like Cosworth-Aston Martin from 2021 you would think. Providing Honda teach respectability, I would think Red Bull will take Honda for 2019 and 2020.
So next year is it Aston Martin Red Bull Tag-Heuer? 2019 Aston Martin Red Bull Honda? Then do we get Aston Martin Red Bull Aston Martin-Cosworth?
Its also an issue for Ross and his direction for the future of F1, its another change when surely the sport needs a bit of stability in the negotiations.
For the next 3 months, while he is tending to his shrubbery, yes, after that, I doubt it, it'll legally be argued as 'restraint of trade'. It will be a bit unfair, but engineers move from team to team and must surely talk about what they did in their previous teams.
TBH that's what I think , but because he is from the FIA , things might be different , but other engineers do it so it would not be fair . Dear Martin . Williams need you !
Sauber need him more, but then I remember they sacked Kamui for a succession of **** pay drivers, so **** Sauber.
