2015 - Three car teams?

[suffolk009]

So, the deadline for 2015 entries is looming (1st Nov), Caterham is in the news, Marussia is apparently getting the cold shoulder from Ferrari, Christian Horner is being Bullish about running three car teams, and of course Vettel and Alonso are amongst the drivers whose seats are unconfirmed for next year.

Is this all leading to there being three car teams next year?

[suffolk009]

^^^^ I saw the piece by Saward. I suspect that anything Bernie is cooking up at the moment will look very different to what is currently being talked about, or tentatively reported.

If there are going to be three car teams (and I suspect the teams already know if there are) then I suspect Vettel has signed for Merc, and not Ferrari as everyone seems to assume. I recognise that I'm out on my own with that idea.

[suffolk009]

rubystone said:

I wonder though - if only Mercedes objected, might they be prepared to change their mind on the 3 car rule if their objection to lifting the engine freeze was upheld?

I suspect everything is negotiable.

[suffolk009]

Twitterati are saying that Caterham will not be at Abu Dhabi, and that Marussia will also be absent from Austin.

I'd be delighted to see Caterham (or whoever they are by then) back on the grid in 2015. But I think three car teams are looking more and more likely.

[suffolk009]

thegreenhell said:

In Joe Saward's latest blog, he seems to be suggesting that if three-car teams happen then it won't be a case of any or all teams committing to running a third car for the full season, but rather that they will take turns to field a third car to make up the numbers in randomly chosen races, with no team running three in consecutive races. How and who decides which teams run the thrid car in which races is less clear.

I think he also makes the point that nobody - outside those who are signed up to the agreement - know the actual terms.

Therefore, either someone has blabbed to him, or like the rest of us he is having an educated guess. I suppose.

[suffolk009]

This from the internet, an interview with Bernie:

The solution [to 3 car teams] could be a rule written into teams’ commercial contracts with Ecclestone that forces big teams to supply third cars to F1’s most struggling outfits.

“So if, for example, Sauber disappeared, a team could do a deal with Sauber,” Ecclestone told Sylt.

“Ferrari could say ‘We will give you a car, all that goes with it, and we want you to put this sponsor on it. You have your own sponsors but we want you to include this one as well and we want you to take this driver’,” he explained.

“The team wouldn’t have to go under then would they? If Red Bull decided they would give a car to Caterham for example that could solve their problem.”

[suffolk009]

thegreenhell said:

The only thing to understand about the third car rules is that everything so far written on the subject, in forums and by professional journalists, is complete guesswork and speculation, as none of the actual rules, if they even currently exist, have ever been published.

This is true.

And the more seasoned journos are honest enough to mention that.

[suffolk009]

onyx39 said:

Anyone else hear the rumour during the commentary that Alonso is staying at Ferrari, and will partner Vetel and Raikinonen?

I heard that one too.

I don't know who or what to believe at the moment. There's so much bluff, double bluff and straight bullst going on.

I think if there will be three car teams (in whatever form) then the teams who will run them will have known it's coming for a while now. If that is the case then Vettel will be in the third Mercedes next year.

[suffolk009]

Looks like Bernie wants Red Bull and Ferrari to run 3 car teams, being widely reported now.

Why not McLaren, Mercedes, and the others though?

[suffolk009]

Somebody suggested that the TV money should be divided equally between all teams. The teams remain free to raise additional money in anyway they like. That way the teams become worth something, people will invest in the teams at the back, because they always have a certain minimum income and therefore shareholder value.

I believe that's how it works in the NFL, the richest sport in the world.

[suffolk009]

Sky F1 website has a piece about three car teams next year just to plug the gap before customer cars in 2016.

Oh dear.