Bahrain will set the scene for the next round of tensions between F1 owner Liberty Media and angry top teams Ferrari and Mercedes. The top teams are already threatening to quit formula one after 2020, if Liberty presses ahead with plans for a budget cap and significantly altered engine rules.
Publications including France's Le Figaro now report that Liberty Media intends to unveil its latest draft of its plans for 2021 and beyond in Bahrain. It appears that Red Bull is at least on Liberty's side for now. "We need a reduction in costs," Dr Helmut Marko is quoted as saying. "However it happens does not matter. No team is making money -- the business model is not sound or healthy."
And another Red Bull official, team boss Christian Horner, urges Liberty to take a hard line rather than be influenced by pressure. "Liberty must impose its views and take strong decisions," he said. "Clearly, you will never get all of the teams to agree." (GMM)
Replies (5)
Login to replyFreguz
Posts: 160
Reduction in costs:
- Stop using windtunnels
- Build a cheaper (non hybrid) engine
- Broadcast to free air TV, and sponsors will arrive
- Fewer races per year
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
-Agree on windtunnels, they become more redundant by the day, and are far too expensive compared to the options. Or at the very least cut down on usage.
-Hell no to non-hybrid. F1 is the pinnacle of motor tech, if it isnt EV (which is still immature tech) it has to be hybrid. Could it be simplified? Definitely. Could costs be cut? Probably. MGU-H is innovative stuff, but the difference between it and MGU-K is that it cannot be carried over to an EV AFAIK, meaning it could very well be redundant in maybe 10-20 years. Couple that with the amount of MGU-H related retirements and costs for that particular component, and it might be better to just ditch it.
-Maybe, maybe not. My main point with easy to access TV is that it'll be easier to access, meaning more viewers, meaning more longterm profits. But I aint seein' that happening, bullshitt overpricers like Viasat wont let a sport like F1 go.
-Fewer races mean lower travel costs, but also mean lower profits overall, since they'll have lower airing time, so its not necessarily a good investment in terms of profit.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Anticipate the headlines showing the following after Bahrain:
- Ferrari threatening again to leave
- Mercedes expressing frustration, albeit in a note dignified fashion
- Red Bull celebrating proposal and taking shots at Ferrari and Mercedes
- Toro Rosso has another engine failure.
- Williams has another dreadful race. The talk of Kubica bring brought in increases
- Mercedes wins in dominant fashion (ok that one's too easy)
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
We'll see about the latter two. The last one is severely dependant on how much Bottas will be able to c**kblock the others. If he fail to do so, Ferrari and RB will be all over Hammy's bum. If they somehow manage to get in front of him during quali, Im not sure he'll be able to get in front from the looks of things.
RacetoWin
Posts: 95
in order to get rid of dirty air the need to reduce or remove the rear wing to remove its wake that's not allowing cars to follow closely without losing the aero from their front wing. they need to go with their 2014 concept of small wings behind the rear wheels or find downforce from the underbody that may include the use of aero skirts.
Tires that dont fall apart and cause marbles off line would also help passing as corners would be clean enough to pass during a late braking maneuver. A tire war will help to increase passing and a weight penalty to factory teams would help level the field to the privateer teams.
The merc is cheating right now and the added DRS zones are aiding them! they are using a large rear wing to maximize downforce in the corners and using the DRS to remove the drag plus the added power of the merc will put them out front.
DRS should not be allowed in qualifying, DRS should be outlawed as its fake overtaking and drivers can no longer defend their position.
During the last race hamilton had the advantage of 3 DRS zones to reduce his lap time while vettel had nothing to aid his during the race. I was happy to see Vettel was able to stay out front for the win. Nice to see lewis take the bait of the raikkonen pit stop, vettel was going for a later stop and softer rubber but the safety car changed their plans.
these devices are allowing drivers to surpass the greats of the sport that had none of these aids nor the hybrid turbos, larger tires and increased downforce. The greats like schumacher just had bigger balls and should still hold lap records today from these pretenders.