Vettel to replace Alonso at Ferrari

[toppstuff]

Maybe a key factor in all of this is Caterham or even Sauber.

If these teams have no money, then there is a risk they won't be around in 2015 . Grids will be depleted. Hence - 3 car teams come next season to fill the gaps.

[suffolk009]

Has any current employee of Ferrari actually confirmed, on or off the record, that Vettel is going there?

[RichB]

Maybe I'm being thick but having been interested in grand prix racing since the early 60s I can't see what's wrong with 3 car teams. Come on then, what's the downside?

[Crafty_]

RichB said:

Maybe I'm being thick but having been interested in grand prix racing since the early 60s I can't see what's wrong with 3 car teams. Come on then, what's the downside?

Imagine if we had them in 2014. Merc 1-2-3 at the vast majority of races.
That means Williams, Red Bull wouldn't have scored as many points.
Force India, STR even less
Marussia would have none.

Money for 2015 is directly linked to WCC rankings in 2014.

So, no podiums for Bottas, no race wins for Ricciardo etc.

[RichB]

I assume that in order to keep the constructors championship on a level playing field that only 2 out 3 cars would score. How did it work back in the 50s when teams fielded several cars? MGJohn might know...

[RichB]

Gaz. said:

Although the 3rd car cannot score constructor points, nobody else can claim those points either...

Is that the way it will work, I hadn't seen the details.

[JonRB]

RichB said:

Gaz. said:

Although the 3rd car cannot score constructor points, nobody else can claim those points either...

Is that the way it will work, I hadn't seen the details.

The alternative is to treat 3rd cars as DNFs for the sake of points - that wouldn't disadvantage 2 car teams then.

[MiniMan64]

Would 3 car teams work better if points were spread move even further down the field?

[thegreenhell]

That would just cause even more confusion for the casual viewers if the extra Mercedes finishes third and gets no points but the fourth place Williams gets the points for third.

[RichB]

I had the impression from Gaz's post that the method of allocating points had been decided?

[team underdog]

The only way I see a third car working is if the constructor teams have to offer the third car to a customer team, much like Moto GP. Goes without saying that a Merc would be costly but then the potential revenue also higher. A customer Williams might be cheaper for a customer team with less budget or wanting to spend more on development...

Would be a massive wholesale shift in the sport though. Personally would just like to a see a full grid of two car teams if only CVC would stop hoovering up the revenues.

[RichB]

Having said I don't have a view on this, I do remember back in the 50s teams would run 3 or even more cars so it's not a new idea.

[Swervin_Mervin]

RichB said:

Having said I don't have a view on this, I do remember back in the 50s teams would run 3 or even more cars so it's not a new idea.

How old are you?!

[Crafty_]

team underdog said:

The only way I see a third car working is if the constructor teams have to offer the third car to a customer team, much like Moto GP. Goes without saying that a Merc would be costly but then the potential revenue also higher. A customer Williams might be cheaper for a customer team with less budget or wanting to spend more on development...

Would be a massive wholesale shift in the sport though. Personally would just like to a see a full grid of two car teams if only CVC would stop hoovering up the revenues.

Customer cars are banned and the top teams would certainly not want customer teams to get their grubby little mitts on a current car.

[RichB]

Swervin_Mervin said:

RichB said:

Having said I don't have a view on this, I do remember back in the 50s teams would run 3 or even more cars so it's not a new idea.

How old are you?!

Approaching 60 why do you ask? I avidly read Motor Sport and take a great interest in the history of motor racing, not just modern F1.

[suffolk009]

Crafty_ said:

Customer cars are banned and the top teams would certainly not want customer teams to get their grubby little mitts on a current car.

They just need to redefine customer cars. The tubs cost too much to make.

Points for parts: Engine, gearbox, suspension, tub, wings, aero. Allocate points (much as the DVLA do to decide on Q-plate qualification) for different parts, you have to meet the minimum points for original parts on the car.

This would let the teams spend their money on the area they can make a difference with. I don't see why the carbon tub is considered uniquely sacrosanct.

[williamp]

JonRB said:

RichB said:

Gaz. said:

Although the 3rd car cannot score constructor points, nobody else can claim those points either...

Is that the way it will work, I hadn't seen the details.

The alternative is to treat 3rd cars as DNFs for the sake of points - that wouldn't disadvantage 2 car teams then.

Car 3, are your tyres ok?? You seem to be going slower then the two team mates in front of you, and you are very slow through the turns.???

Mobiel chicane. Still, if it means the likes of pedro Diniz can get a drive, what can possilby go wrong??

[JonRB]

suffolk009 said:

Points for parts: Engine, gearbox, suspension, tub, wings, aero. Allocate points (much as the DVLA do to decide on Q-plate qualification) for different parts, you have to meet the minimum points for original parts on the car.

I like the way you're thinking. In fact, as soon as I read "points for parts" my mind was racing ahead to DVLA Q-plate even before I read you saying exactly that.

[team underdog]

Crafty_ said:

team underdog said:

The only way I see a third car working is if the constructor teams have to offer the third car to a customer team, much like Moto GP. Goes without saying that a Merc would be costly but then the potential revenue also higher. A customer Williams might be cheaper for a customer team with less budget or wanting to spend more on development...

Would be a massive wholesale shift in the sport though. Personally would just like to a see a full grid of two car teams if only CVC would stop hoovering up the revenues.

Customer cars are banned and the top teams would certainly not want customer teams to get their grubby little mitts on a current car.

Banned for now yes. Don't see why teams would be against selling their third car, it becomes revenue rather than a cost as the third car doesn't count towards constructor points. The one car customer team wouldn't be a threat to the constructors two car points tally and hence prize money.

[Crafty_]

So imagine Merc selling the W05 to Force India, then Force India beating them in their own car.

Embarrassing.

The teams would sell last years car with whatever mods that would make it legal. As I understand it when teams sell the components (gearbox, suspension etc) this is what they do.