Calling any motorsport historians...

[motormania]

The news coming out over recent days is quite scary for many fans who've followed the sport for many years. Is there anything in the history journals that replicates what we are seeing today, and if so, how did we get through it.

Does it require a change at the helm (Max 'the spank' Moseley and the wealthy Midget)

Does it need a move back to all privateer teams rather than reliance on manufacturers who are answerable to shareholders and their precious dividends?

Another thought, it is probably fair to say that the money has not vanished, it's just gone somewhere else, so does F1 need to seek out new sponsor sectors?

Let's hope it pulls through without too much damage, though I fear at least 2-3 other teams could be walking away before the end of 09.

[FourWheelDrift]

During the last big recession 1990-1992 over the period it effected there was a reduction in the number of teams most were privateers, but also bigger names from happier times went like Brabham and Lotus (who were effected but finally left in 1994)

1989 - 20 teams
1990 - 20 teams
1991 - 18 teams
1992 - 16 teams
1993 - 13 teams

[davepen]

If one goes a long way back, in the 30's two teams dominated (Mercedes and Audi) with an Italian team (Alfa -managed by a Mr Ferrari) challenging. Even then grids were made up with F2 cars. After the war some of the early F1 races still had Pre War F2 cars on the grid - for example ERA ~ I see even as late as 1950. http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?Ra... In fact Donald Day still uses R14B at historic speed events.

In the 50's many manufactures used to have large teams, and swap drivers/cars during the race.

Even as late as the 79s Lotus used to sell old cars to privateers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebaque

When the manufacturers went Turbo in the 80's the privateers stuck with the Cosworth DFV and I think there were almost two classes.

So you could use last years cars, 3 or 4 car teams , or add F2 (GP2) cars to the grid.
Depends if you want a grid to go racing, or a costly celebfest.

ETA: See Article in Telegraph on Saturday
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formul...

Edited by davepen on Monday 8th December 16:36

[chevronb37]

Throughout history teams have been and gone. In 1966, who would've believed that Lotus, Brabham, BRM, Cooper and Honda would all have dropped out of F1? The major difference here, I would suggest, is that instead of being run by racers, for the sake of racing (let us not forget that Enzo Ferrari only sold road cars to better fund racing), the manufacturer teams are "fairweather" F1 teams. They will stay as long as the board allows it and it is proven that they are making more money from selling cars off the back of F1 than it costs to enter. Honda is still doing ALMS, Super GT, IRL, etc. next year, but there is no bottomless pit of money any longer.

I suspect we might see another couple of teams drop out before the end of this financial turbulence. So, who is to fill the void? Either existing teams field more cars (making it much more expensive) or new teams enter. I can't see another manufacturer investing so privateers must enter. I await with interest who will step in...