[Team] Selfish or Cowardly Mercedes?

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by wnut

You're right Trev.

Mercedes simply want to be seen as dominating the pinnacle of racing.

They see F1 as a promo for their hybrid technology and nothing else.
Furthermore the less they have to spend on maintaining their position the better.

Mercedes have no interest in the sporting aspect of F1, and no interest in its continued good health, they are merely using Bernie's circus to promote their hybrid technology. They care nothing for F1!


Chapman on the other hand was heavily invested in F1 and knew that he was dependent on the growth and health of F1. A position all the non manufacturing teams should realise that they are in and adopt!

Welcome to the real world.

F1 is now so expensive, there has to be some sort of way of recovering costs. For Mercedes, it's advertising. For everyone else, it's, er, advertising (except maybe Ferrari).

[pole2pole]

One of the problems I have with all this, is the description of F1 - the pinnacle of motor sport. If indeed this is the pinnacle then why is it that Mercedes are supplying so many teams in such a controlled way. Where is Audi,BMW,Citroen,Peugeot,Nissan,Hyundai and Toyota to name a few. Why are these giants not on the grid. Tell you what,if they where on the grid it would certainly sort out the reliance on Mercedes.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by JamesH

Welcome to the real world.

F1 is now so expensive, there has to be some sort of way of recovering costs. For Mercedes, it's advertising. For everyone else, it's, er, advertising (except maybe Ferrari).

Ferrari is all about advertising. Ferrari advertises crap jackets and terrible aftershaves by selling cars, tbh.

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by pole2pole

One of the problems I have with all this, is the description of F1 - the pinnacle of motor sport. If indeed this is the pinnacle then why is it that Mercedes are supplying so many teams in such a controlled way. Where is Audi,BMW,Citroen,Peugeot,Nissan,Hyundai and Toyota to name a few. Why are these giants not on the grid. Tell you what,if they where on the grid it would certainly sort out the reliance on Mercedes.

Money, mainly. Audi are getting bang for their bucks in sports cars, Citroën have had to choose between the WTCC and the WRC, Peugeot had to can their Le Mans programme because of budget issues (though now seem to be spending a fortune on the Dakar). Nissan wouldn't compete head-to-head with Renault, Toyota had their fingers burned by F1. Hyundai have chosen the WRC.

I'd like to see one or two more engine manufacturers in F1, but four is sustainable - I'd rather see Honda competitive.