Show Comments on:

benignlyindifferent

February 06, 2013 4:34 PM

F1 » Jerez F1 test times – day two: 6 February – 5pm


The times do mean something to the teams, otherwise they wouldn't bother with the timing. But aero packages, choice of tires, fuel load etc. all impact the data and make things a bit confusing at times. In MotoGP, Rossi is clearly happy with his time as he is relieved to be close to his teammate. But in F1, our new McLaren lad will certainly be looking to improve on Thursday, he is nearly two seconds adrift of Button, who set his time yesterday on hard tires. Of course lots of factors can and will change for the teams but to say the times are irrelevant is just not correct.

benignlyindifferent

February 03, 2013 8:00 PM

F1 » Mercedes accounts show spiralling cost of F1


... and Andrew, whether it's a cap or whatever, I agree. The costs are out of control and are driving teams out of the sport. I remember that in 2004, Montoya set the all time lap record at Monza with his Williams FW27 at an average speed of 262.242 km/h. Fast driver, great chassis and engine yes, but today they are spending considerably more dollars to not go as fast and so the rules also need to be considered.Perhaps they should bring back more testing, but control the number of sessions, place time limits on wind tunnel and simulator work, and consider spec parts like exhausts and wing configurations. I don't want an Indy car but if everyone used the same exhaust for example, it would eliminate the costly attempts to route exhaust gasses.

benignlyindifferent

February 03, 2013 7:50 PM

F1 » Mercedes accounts show spiralling cost of F1


Thanks, Richard. I did not understand the complete segregation of the motor division but your comments make sense now that I think of the history. It makes you wonder where all the money does go, and Senna Forever's comments that they have spent their money on the wrong things is probably correct, when you consider how quickly Red Bull evolved their team into an annual championship contender.

benignlyindifferent

February 03, 2013 5:58 PM

F1 » Mercedes accounts show spiralling cost of F1


Richard, Good points but it seems that some of those profits are segregated from the race division but I can't tell when you look at the financials for the technology section. But regardless, my point is Williams clearly run their team as a business and they have posted their audited financial statements for the past several years. The NBA, NFL, NHL and other pro sports with spending caps do something similar. MS suggests a lack of funding is a factor for the lack of success and I can't see how when they have double the staff, triple the budget, and sell engines to countless teams. I am quite as the influence of Mercedes is enormous but they could withdraw from the sport after one board meeting and a bad quarter for their road car division. Maybe Williams and a couple of other true race teams should collectively but Cosworth and develop a common engine because if Mercedes leaves the sport Pure might become an option and wouldn't that be a nightmare:)

benignlyindifferent

February 03, 2013 3:49 PM
Last Edited 105 days ago

F1 » Mercedes accounts show spiralling cost of F1


Williams F1 reported in their Financial Statements, which you can download online, that they employed 515 people and had income of approximately 160 million dollars. And they made money. It is difficult to comprehend how the respective boards of directors of the top teams can drive up their spending over costs to levels well beyond what they would do in any of their other businesses. Maybe we don't need a spending cap. Maybe we need a rule that says teams can spend what they want provided they present their audited statements at year's end to prove they made money, and if did not, be required to reduce their staff by an amount proportional to the deficit for the next year.


Page 7 of 21
« ‹ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12  › »

Although the administrators and moderators of this website will attempt to keep all objectionable comments off these pages, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the poster, and neither Crash Media Group nor Crash.Net will be held responsible for the content of any message. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. If you find a message objectionable, please contact us and inform us of the problem or use the [report] function next to the offending post. Any message that does not conform with the policy of this service can be edited or removed with immediate effect.