Just a question

[batgurl 0]

I remember hearing a lot for a little while about the possibility of adding a 3rd driver to the teams. Then I stopped hearing anything at all. Does anyone know if this is still a possibility in the future or did I just happen to miss them scrapping the whole idea?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It could still happen, it would just need Minardi to go bankrupt along with Arrows. The Concorde Agreement states that there shall be no less than 20 cars entered for each race, so if Minardi goes bankrupt the grid will be just 18 cars. If that happens the remaining nine teams have to run three cars to bring the F1 grid up to size. The backdraw on that is that 26 is currently the maximum number of cars allowed on an F1 grid, so 9 teams with 3 cars makes 27 cars, meaning the drivers at the tail end of the grid would be battling with each other to get into the race, P27 doesnt fit. And then the 107% rule above that.

I for one would love to see it happen, would allow more drivers into teams like Mclaren and Williams, I am awaiting the day that Wurz gets to race in the Mclaren as he is my favorite non-Finnish driver As turnaround I dont want to see Minardi go, so it would mean another team would have go which doesn't really look like it will happen..

[GeoffandSandy 0]

I think it's a bad idea.

The logistics of a three car team is horrendous, not to mention the expense.

It would only move Ferrari & maybe Williams & McLaren away from the others even more than they are now.

In two seasons there might be only four or five teams running.

Besides, track design almost prohibits overtaking so more cars mean more blue flags & less real racing.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

The bad side is if things stay the way they are, Ferrari already fills the podium before other cars are even mentioned. But if things even out and Bernie makes the rule changes he has proposed, then we would have at least nine cars racing for a win and we havent had that in a long time!

Sure logistics may be horrendous, but that isn't our problem as the audience is it GnS?

[Rohan 0]

3 drivers aaaaaaaaah its hard to think about it, but all i can imagine is Montoyta, Ralf and DRIVER X taking themselves out......and now i think its a bad idea!!!!

also the cartoon teams like the Minardi cant afford it lol

[Sato 0]

i say if you want more real racing get rid of the blue flags, that will make for some real racing.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It certainly would make for some interesting lapping Especially when the Ferrari's come around to lap the Jag of Irvine, he's already a tough nut to go by!

[nichosnz 0]

also the cartoon teams like the Minardi cant afford it lol

I don't think teams would be required to run three cars, it would be an option. Although if no teams did, and the FIA couldn't provide the 20 cars they may state that the top x teams from the previous year had to enter 3 cars.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Im not sure if theyd be required to run three cars, but I remember hearing Bernie saying that if it happened it would be so for everyone. Definitely it would mean that expenses for each team would go up by 50%, and that is a lot.

[nichosnz 0]

That could cause even more teams to fold then, if it is required. That would then be a very bad thing.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Definitely. Maybe Bernie should get rid of the $48 million bond you have to pay to enter F1, probably more teams would be willing to enter.

[nichosnz 0]

That bond was initiated so teams that couldn't afford to stay didn't arrive in the first place.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well maybe they should take a 10 year step back in technology to make F1 cheaper, it could make for some great racing which I think is what everyone wants right now.

[nichosnz 0]

But then teams would again work out ways of circumventing the lawbook.

[rodders47 2]

That bond was initiated so teams that couldn't afford to stay didn't arrive in the first place.

Well Nichos can you tell me WHO gets all those signing on Franchise mega Bucks ???

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

FOM, but a lot of it goes to pay for the teams expenses to get to the flyaway races I believe. Things need to get simpler in F1 though, Im hoping that some changes come around soon..

[daz 0]

I agree that some change is needed but I don't think that it should be at the expense of new technology and development. To me F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and is therefore very reliant on the technology. By limiting that to save on cost would eventually just lead to 20 identical cars being on the grid.... To me that makes it the same as CART, IRL & any other series where there is very little difference in the machinery... Personally I think that if a manufacturer can't afford to be in F1 then they must get out. I'd rather have 6 teams with 3 cars each where the racing is excellent in cars with the latest technology, than have 10 or 11 2 car teams where gaps are huge from the front of the grid to the back...

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

As would I, 6 or 7 evenly matched three car teams is better than 11 teams with gaps. F1 has always been different from other racing because teams have to build their own chassis, which is why they should not change it.

[nichosnz 0]

That hasn't always been the case, teams used to be able to buy and sell chassis.

In 1957 (picking a year out of thin air) there were 6 constructors but 9 teams + privateers.