Big Time Charlies

[Cyprian]

Perhaps it's just me, but I feel the long awaited entrance
of major manufacturers, committing themselves to f1 can
only bring about the super- competitive, adrenaline fuelled
racing that f1 fans have always dreamed of witnessing.
Of course it will be a shame to see smaller teams we all
love edged out, still I reckon they're just what's been
dragging the sport backward all these years.
Just Imagine all talented drivers finally in fastest cars
and not just one or two in huge marque backed machines.
Consider Fisichella in a Renault and Salo in a Toyota.
One wonders how we ever watched the processions of almost
boring seasons like '92, '93 and '95.

[Liz]

I'm afraid what will happen is what happened to Le Mans type sports cars and the BTCC - the works teams drive everyone else out, then lose interest and pull out ... and the series collapses.

But time will tell.

[Minardi fan]

Possibly true - the backend teams are the real racers in F1, with the exception from the front of Jordan.

Imagine a grid of teams like the Macs and Ferraris...

[RussianFriend]

Now I understand Minardi fan choice. Top teams compete not quite in racing or engeneering, but in Jesuitical art.

[angst]

Completely agree with Liz on this. The manufacturers will be in for a while, get the publicity they need then bugger off one by one. They don't need to be in F1. The likes of Williams, Minardi, Jordan, Mclaren etc. etc. do.
By the way Cyprian, the most competitive eras of F1 have largely been when there has been minimal manufacturer interest. ie through the sixties to the early eighties. Only really since the likes of Renault and Honda entered with their (works)turbo cars did the whole thing start being dominated quite so badly.

[EERO]

I fully agree with Liz and angst about this one.

There are a limited number of Major Manufacturers left in the World and as each dabbles at F1, success OR failure will eventually wear thin and they will depart-witness the "Pew-goat" fiasco. I doubt Daimler-Chrysler will stay put forever. Eventually, they too will lose interest and where will that leave McLaren-would they have to leave F1 because their corperate overlords deemed it necessary, or would some one need to buy back Daimler-Chrysler's shares.

It really doesn't bode well for the long term.

[Minardi fan]

Originally posted by RussianFriend
Now I understand Minardi fan choice.

I knew someone would eventually!

[Willf]

yuz all right but still

Jaguar are the best (if not really)team in the universe bar none

so there ron dennis and you're stupid advert

[Bononi]

It is a deal done... sooner ot later, all teams will be held by some big manufacturer, it is a logical procedure as the money bussiness increases. So, once one of them leaves, another big one will take place, and so on...

[EERO]

Okay, Bononi, let's make a list.

Ford in as Jaguar ( No Ford, Lincoln, Volvo, or Mazda)
DaimlerChrysler in as Mercedes (Scratch Chrysler)
Renault in as Themselves(No Nissan)
Fiat in as Ferrari(whither Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia)
BMW in with Williams, (Threatened take over by VW)
Honda in with Jordan and BAR (Constant Take-over threat)
Toyota in as of 2002
Peugeot, out and if they are to be believed, they ain't comin' back.
VW no interest expressed , No VW, No Audi, No SEAT, No Skoda, No Bugatti and NO Lamborghini.
GM little interest, though rumours persist, Cadillac?, Chevy, SAAB, Isuzu, Holden, Opel or Vauxhaul? Note that GM have signed a joint deal with FIAT.

The point being, dear, Bononi, that when Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Toyota pull out, as they have in the past, there is a very small pool of majors to take their places.

[RussianFriend]

The matter is the world is too smool to have enouth Big Manufacturers at once. But in 10-15 years wé'll be watching a fight of 2-3 engines, manufacturers of which could survive after capital's joining up. Therefore it's better not to worry about rich big boys and try to enjoy this moment.