Formula 1 would be better for Ferrari not being there. For all the illustrious history, they are the absolute lynchpin in the imbalance that exists which prevents this being a more entertaining, closer and better competition for viewers. Utterly ridiculous.
This actually got me thinking over lunch, how often does the WDC not belong to the WCC team? In recent history I can think of: 2008 - Hamilton 1999 - Hakkinen 1994 - Schumacher
They are simply too powerful . I honestly thought / hoped the new owners / Brawn would say " There's the rules . If you don't like them feel free to leave " . But no …...
Yes . PRP ( Performance related Pasta ) . Seriously though . Ok , if you are doing very well , have a bit more . I agree 100% it should be equal and relative . Ferrari win at Monza . So what ? it's a speed track . Renault get on the podium is Spa . take a bow !
If Ferrari left F1 it might be a problem if they went to another series, would they get as much elsewhere? I don't believe so as another series would not necessarily suit them. If it is a written rule, that for enternity/life of F!, Ferrari get preferential treatment they should fold the company. How many companies go on to greater things because they changed the business model? loads. Time to flex muscle.
While Ferrari are the team that have been there from the start I'm not sure they really deserve so much extra money just for turning up. Especially with the upcoming spending cap. Extra prize money for constructors points is perfect as it rewards in the correct way. I do think that the budget cap is good but it's initially too high. I suppose if they gradually reduce it over time it would be better but I also think this might impact staff wages which is a bit unfair. Anyway huge historic payments and veto power should have been stopped. I think they should have called ferraris bluff. Worst case they quit and F1 carries on.
See above . I have not looked , but what are the chances some of the NEW owners have " Italian " contacts ?
Ferrari probably have more fans than any other 2 teams combined, maybe 3 teams, maybe all the other teams, that's a lot of potential revenue formula one/liberty media could risk losing. That is why they won't play brinkmanship with Ferrari.
Tbf Schumacher and Hamiltons teammates the years they won it were truly awful and hakkenen only won in 99 because Schumacher broke he's leg.
no, truly awful is Fitiipaldi's team mate, Dave Walker, when he won the wdc in '72; he didn't score a point
Anyone think though that Rosberg looks a better teammate in hindsight than anyone gave him credit for at the time? At least he was on it every weekend giving it his maximum, keeping the pressure on. He did a mikes better job than Bottas. (Granted Ferrari and Red Bull were not as strong)
I always thought he was a strong teammate to Lewis, never thought otherwise. I know he felt he put himself through it to beat Lewis to the WDC but I was surprised he threw the towel in, other than to be a dad, which is a itself a damn good reason but since he still travels to the races I doubt that is the reason. I like Bottas but Nico was a better driver, partly due to personality rather than technical capability, although his overtaking was questionable. Lewis has more bad days than he used too and I think Nico kept him on his toes. 6 WDC, I think Lewis is getting complacent and is having doubts about the example he is setting re global warming (GW). Couple of months ago he was more motivated than ever, now he talks of giving up. Next year, may be Lewis's last if he continues with the thinking. He needs to think about his fashion business contributing to GW if he is manufacturing in China...airmiles, labour abuse etc and suspect he will, on his current path. He is growing up I guess.
Rosberg was definitely quicker than people gave him credit. Wasn't afraid of a fight either. No doubt a much better driver than Bottas. Thing is with Hamilton, I think he actually benefits from having a competitive team-mate. He has a bit of a tendency to go off the boil a bit otherwise.
I had not appreciated Albon had outpointed Verstappen in his debut with Redbull. I know Verstappen has been unfortunate, some of it perhaps self made but that is a significant achievement. If Redbull ditch Albon you would have to ask why. In the team mates wars, Leclerc vs Vettel would be accentuated by two DNFs for Vettel. Perez vs Stroll is another big one. Observation, more than 100 races for Verstappen now, vs Lewis 250 ish. Lewis has about 82 more wins so Vetstappen would have to win about 9 races per season to match Lewis on a similar number of races. Tall order. I keep thinking of Verstappen as a young upstart but he isn't really, young in years but not years in F1. Must be his 5th season. (I am getting old )