BMW to go?

[Derek Smith]

I'm sorry if this has been posted before but I can't find it.

This from F1-live

Two-tier F1 could lead to BMW F1 exit
BMW, Theissen unimpressed with budget caps

And then this intriguing sub-heading

FOTA to take on the FIA as well as FOM?

F1-live said: BMW has joined Ferrari in hinting that it is willing to quit Formula One if a 'two-tier' series is introduced next season via the optional budget cap

Mario Theissen reckoned:

"A two-class Formula One is not attractive to BMW. In one go you cannot just evaporate by a factor of three. A moving path, for example over two or three years, would be possible."

In F1-live's opinion: "The F1 CEO would be able to legitimately turn around to the teams and reduce the payments they receive from Formula One Management and therefore increase the profits made for CVC Capital who own the commercial rights to the series.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/...

[sirtyro]

Isnt this what Max and Bernie have been working towards? Getting rid of the manufacturers and then just have independant teams that when told to jump ask how high?

To be honest if other news is to be believed and Ferrari head to sports cars (ALMS) then as long as the ACO dont mess it up you could have a really good motorsport to follow.

[stifler]

MM said in one of his (many) recent interviews that the teams would receive less money due to the economic down turn. This is the first time I have seen ideas that they will get a lot less because of the budget cap.

[bordseye]

If you want to see just 3 or 4 big multinationals fighting for the prize, then a cap free F1 is the way to go. But just like rallying, it will end up with one or two factory supporters - after all there is no prize for losing from a commercial point of view, and not much of one for winning if there is no competition. Got to remember the major car makers dont do F1 because they love the sport. They do it for commercial advantage from winning.

With no caop, the game isnt viable for the small teams. They rely on deals with big advertisers but again the advertisers want the kudos of winning. And the small teams cant deliver that reliably.

For me the entry of the big car makers into F1 was a disaster. It became a cheque book battle. And thats why Ferrari and BMW want to keep it like that - they know that ultimately they can outspend the likes of MaClaren or Brawn and beat them into the ground.