Three-car teams: yes or no? (Poll)
Ferrari want to run a third car for Michael Schumacher
Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo has mentioned several times in recent weeks he wants F1 teams to be able to run three cars in 2010 in the hope that he can lure Michael Schumacher back to drive.
FIA president Max Mosley has scoffed at the idea, dismissing it as “fantasy”. But would you like to see bigger teams and larger grid sizes?
Should F1 teams be allowed to run three cars?
- Yes (42%)
- No (54%)
- No opinion (4%)
Total Voters: 2,997
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As I’ve already explained before, I’m not keen on the idea of ‘three-car’ teams. In short, it feels like a ‘quick-fix’ solution to the threat of dwindling team numbers, and one that would cause more problems in the long-term.
I thought McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh put a sensible explanation forward for the problems with three-car teams:
We need to be sensitive to the fact that if there were three Brawns, Red Bulls and McLarens here, then it doesn’t make it easier for the small teams. So we need to be willing and prepared to do third cars, but you should only do that if you have fewer teams present than we currently have.
Despite concerns over the future of Renault and possibly Toyota, with four new teams entering F1 in 2010 there doesn’t seem to be any immediate need to rush to three-car teams. Particularly if every team were to try to run three cars, increasing the field size theoretically to a new record of 42, which would cause logistical problems.
Although I like the idea of suddenly having 50% more cars in F1, I don’t like the three-car solution. What’s your take?
See more results of F1 Fanatic polls: F1 Fanatic polls archive
Read more: Why three-car teams isn’t a great idea
mp4-19b said on 20th September 2009, 13:15
i’m very surprised that no one else has come up with some ridiculous idea which matches the one proposed by Luca Di Monty. Ok, Lemme be the first to make a ridiculous proposal. Why not run a single car team? By doing so, one need not worry about crashing on purpose to help teammate,no contractual issues, no veto clauses, no fear of getting beaten by teammate, higher pay, most importantly No team orders. This proposal will definitely cut costs. Dunno why no one at FIA proposed this idea yet. I was under the impression that people who run this sport are far more intelligent, sadly I’m wrong.
Maksutov said on 20th September 2009, 13:20
That’s a good idea :)
Tiomkin said on 20th September 2009, 20:25
Great idea!! Solves all problems. That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said in a long while.
Steph90 said on 20th September 2009, 13:22
lynnduffy has swayed my mind abit…
That is true and would be great to see (Alonso, Massa, Kimi is my little dream) but I still worry for costs for smaller teams.
mp4-19b said on 20th September 2009, 13:58
Alonso would cry like a prat if he were to get the same equipment as Kimi & Massa.
Skova265 said on 20th September 2009, 18:14
looks like kimi signes back to mclaren
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090920103457.shtml
Treesurfingredsquirrel said on 20th September 2009, 13:29
Formula 1 should not go to 3 car teams. The main issues of today, are quite serious in that the future of our planet is in great jeopardy.
Formula 1 is trying to become greener, and is taking on board and becoming a catalyst for green revolution in vehicle propulsion.
I am very sympathetic towards green issues, but also like F1 and racing, and I think their should still be a place for racing, even when oil-based-fuelled cars could be phased out as our means of getting around.
Auto racing is damaging to the environment, for various reasons, including the logistics of moving it from venue to venue, which has quite an impact on the environment. Expanding teams to 3 cars increases this, but so does keeping it as 2 car teams but increasing the number of teams. For the sake of the environment, their needs to be limits that reflect the serious concerns for how much we’re trashing our world.
I don’t doubt many of you are unbelievably still Global warming sceptics, and are wondering what place green issues have in your debate, and their are also those who think global warming and other environmental crises are real but now beyond repair. But lets try really hard to keep trying to turn things around, even if its too late, our intention and duty must remain the same, to respect our only home, we may not have long left … even our means of producing food the ways we currently do are going to be over, in only 5 to 10 years, because they all depend on the oil to fuel agriculture.
No to 3 cars and No to a field of teams much bigger than it already is.
mp4-19b said on 20th September 2009, 13:45
I’m certainly not one of them. My ultimate wish is to see F1 cars being run on electricity or even better solar power. But you point the rise in global temp to automobile exhausts, CO etc. But some “Experts” in this field including Prof Michio Kaku attribute this to the increased solar activity(sunspots) & he mentions that rise in global temp has nothing to do with pollution, but it has more to do with the sun itself.
But as long as we have “PSEUDO” Green activists like Max Mosley, god help us!
Martin said on 21st September 2009, 4:31
maybe if we make f1 greener then BMW can come back and be conpetitive…not
verstappen said on 20th September 2009, 20:07
Racing and green are (except in the case of jaguar) natural enemies.
And by the way: Soccer is a far worse sport, because there are more matches which attract more public, driving in automobiles to the stadiums. So maybe you should focus on soccer…
manatcna said on 20th September 2009, 23:24
This is a Formula One blog/site
Ciaran said on 20th September 2009, 13:43
Bad idea in my opinion. If one team is dominating, the entire podium could be locked out, which would just be plain boring.
Having said that, I quite liked the old rule of letting smaller teams run a third car in Friday practice.
Martin said on 21st September 2009, 4:34
Let them have 3 car teams but only the top 2 can race. If they qualify 1,2,3 then the third qualifier is out.
That will stir up interteam competition and make everyone hungry to do well.
Carlos in Oz said on 20th September 2009, 14:03
I dont think there should be 3 car teams but a team like Ferrari could do something similar to what Red Bull have done with Toro Rosso & back a 2nd team. Maybe that’s happening with ex-BMW? They’re rumoured to be running Ferrari engines, (Sauber already had a history with Ferrari) the investors are rumoured to be middle eastern & european. Start a new rumour, Schumi’s old middle eastern backers (from Abu Dhabi where a tower was built in his name) are putting up the cash, Schumi’s running the team and we’ll have Alonso/Massa/Kimi & Fisi as the 4 drivers for the Scuderia! Perhaps alonso/massa at ferrari, kimi/fisi at say…Team MASERATI… You heard it here first folks… :)
Anonymous said on 20th September 2009, 14:33
Comments here are good.
Here’s my input allow the 3rd car just for testing and evaluation of upgrade only but not for race. They can run this car on Friday only or yet stand-in spare car. Just my F1 fantasy.
Austin said on 20th September 2009, 16:14
Heres another idea, to involve the test drivers and give them racing experience in a F1 car. Why not have a test drivers championship, like the reserve games in football. It would allow team bosses to see who has what it takes to race in the championship proper. Maybe run it before the main race.
Martin said on 21st September 2009, 4:35
not bad..I like
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 20th September 2009, 23:45
Good to hear! Keep ‘em coming…
Willian Ceolin said on 20th September 2009, 14:58
Which will be next step?
Offer four, five cars? I think it is a bad solution to F1.
In this way we’ll have a new Nascar instead of F1.
Sam said on 20th September 2009, 16:04
If Ferrari want more driver seats why not run a 2nd team like Red Bull?
Austin said on 20th September 2009, 16:07
I voted no. I am surprised there are so many Yes votes. I suspect these Yes votes are Ferrai fans and people who like crashes. The more cars/bad drivers on the track the bigger the chance of crashes and injuries or death. The only reason Ferrari want a 3rd car is to block other cars and basically fix the race in their favour. I can’t see this 3rd car idea happening then again if Todt wins then Montezemolo and the Yes voters might get their wish, with the race fixing scandal, this can only encourage more cheating which we don’t want. If this does happen then the podium should be four places and the points increased for the lower scorers to make it possible for consistent scorers with a chance of catching the leaders. At least make it fair as this 3rd car can only benefit the better teams in their favour and probably put the smaller teams out of business. Anyway this is a non starter imo.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 20th September 2009, 23:47
OK, maybe that’s statistically true, but I think it’s a slightly perverse way of looking at it. The same argument says we should never increase the number of cars in F1, in fact we should decrease it to zero and then go play ping-pong.
Bigbadderboom said on 21st September 2009, 7:17
It,s not just statistically true because of the number of cars on track Keith, it’s also true because of the defensive role that the 3rd car will undoubtedly be given once the season gets under way. I think what has become apparent this year is that there is a fine line between a good F1 driver and a dangerously slow one. 3 car teams would be likely to employ a Rookie driver to help succesion within their team, and that combined with the sheer number of cars would definatley result in more incidents.
Net Sticks said on 20th September 2009, 16:22
3 Cars? 4 Cars…
I heard Ferrari wanted a fourth car for Nikki Lauda, but he refuse. He said that he makes more money being a commentator… lol
And now back to real life – I’ve just read a news report, saying The Mirror is coming forward with the existence of a pre-agreement (like Alonso-Ferrari) between Kimi and McLaren, for next season and only if Ferrari keeps on paying him whatever they agree until his contract ends.
This means too good thinks – If Ferrari really wants Alonso (puah!) they will have to pay their 2 drivers and one of his bigger rival teams… and the other good thing is that Kimi comes home and McLaren will have the best drivers in business – and it won’t be like when Alonso was there – Kimi is more peaceful and doesn’t demand to have the all team only fixated on him, like that poor Spaniard did and still does… How can he get out untouched by everything that’s been happening at Renault it’s a mystery to me, maybe he is already under Ferrari/FIA protection…. it’s the only scenery I can believe.
Welcome back to a real team Kimi! Good for you, good for us!
Andrés Menacho said on 20th September 2009, 16:33
3 cars is no a solution, what F1 needs is motivation to get more car manufacturers into the sport. A signing bonus of some sort and a more relevant link to road car development. BMW leaving and the possibility of Renault and Toyota quiting simply signals that the sport is becoming irrelevant to the manufacturers.
Damon said on 20th September 2009, 16:40
Agreed.
I just can’t imagine 3 Ferraris or McLarens taking the first 3 places in qualifying and then leading together the race from lap one – obviously not racing one another. It’d be aweful for the sport.
the Sri lankan said on 20th September 2009, 23:12
yeap, the points system wil need to be adjusted, the garages at every track need to be mad bigger and just imagine the fact not every driver available is going to be experienced. i see pure carnage in this f1 fantasy
David said on 20th September 2009, 17:08
Third cars should be allowed but they shouldn’t be allowed to score points
Wesley said on 20th September 2009, 17:33
I would love to see Schumi come back……and get beaten by Hamilton,Kimi,Fernando,Vettel and most of all Rubens.But,not in a third Ferrari.Three car teams will only cause more confusion,cost more money, and cause even more politics with drivers.
Rob R. said on 20th September 2009, 18:06
It appeals to me at first glance for two reasons. Because it would make it easier for Schumi to make a comeback (I wasn’t his biggest fan… but obviously it would be a good thing). And also, because Max is against it – that makes me even more inclined to agree with it.
However, having considered people’s arguments I think it should only happen as an emergency measure, if by the time Melbourne rolls around, it becomes apparent that half of the new teams are not going to make it, in addition to BMW and Toyota and/or Renault dropping out.