F1 Fanatic

I think he’s just sending a message to Virgin and Hispania: find some speed, or find a new series to race in. If one or both team could compete with the others, then I don’t think Ecclestone would object to their presence at all.

Hadn’t heard that BE was pushing for this…seems odd since only a few years ago, post-manufacturer-exodus, they were trying to invite new teams, and talked of making it more affordable for them to enter and stay in F1 and get competitive more quickly than in the past. They talked of budget caps that would give new potential team owners some assurance that they wouldn’t go bankrupt trying to field a few cars for a small number of years until they could get somewhat respectable.

Stability in the rules would go a long way to ensuring there aren’t so many slow teams out there, or teams that are so much slower than the ‘have’ teams. Ten teams to me sound like not enough, and sounds like it would be an even more elite group than we currently have, lacking in ‘newness’ and limiting the driver market. I suppose I wouldn’t have a problem with 10 teams if they were all strong…that would make for some wicked racing…and I suppose limiting the number of teams, or let’s word it as getting rid of the slowest teams, would eliminate some of the drivers that don’t really belong on the grid and are only there because they brought money to the table for their ride on teams that need the money and cannot attract the best drivers until they show some competitiveness…

Anyhoo…I guess I’m indifferent to the number of teams, but 20 cars sounds kind of sparse, unless they are close in performance to each other and they can get away from the parade mentality in F1. 10 teams sounds kind of limiting in terms of new entrants (as in, the doors are closed), but maybe to BE that signals some stability in and of itself…

I think we have it about right now, look at the grid at a race start and it is nice an full, I don’t think you could squeeze many more cars in on the start finish straight at some circuits, now compare the grid to the MotoGP grid which looks deserted!

It is about the only good thing to come out of the Budget restriction agreement (or whatever it is called)!

Indeed!

Way to few, Teams will find some pace but slow cars have been around for as long as F1 has been in existance. Keep as it is, theres a revolving door in F1 and as soon as someone leaves, another enters.

Thank you, Keith, for pointing out the major flaws with Mr. Ecclestone’s logic. You think we might see an article regarding this issue? I for my part, as a F1 fan, am very much offended by this and consider this statement much worse than anything else Ecclestone has blabbered in the last months (well, maybe the artificial rain thing – but it’s damn close).

Aside from the point you mentioned about increasing the reach of Formula 1 there is another essential point why having as many teams as possible is important: people are complaining about a lack of seats for talented young drivers. Where do places for young drivers come from, from previous F1 history? Correct, small teams.

I want there to be enough cars to put the letters DNQ back into play.