Is F1 in denial with customer teams?

The constitution of Formula One hasn’t really changed over the last 30 years, but we have seen different phases which have shaped where we are today.

It was the premise that everyone is their own constructor and that has brought good and bad to the sport. We saw in the early nineties over thirty cars trying to qualify for a race, but given the fairly free regulations at the time were a long way off the pace. Over time those true backmarkers either disappeared or merged into another team to keep their place on the grid and only those who were the fittest survived.

We then moved into an era which was dominated by the big manufacturers who took over the sport. It saw big money from Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Toyota, Ferrari and Renault but was left a void when three pulled out in close succession. It also saw the first wave of customer teams with Red Bull buying Minardi to create Toro Rosso and Honda partner in the Super Aguri team.

So, its not like we have been there before. We either have a number of teams who are independent, but don’t always have either the funding or the technical ability to create a fast racing car, or you have sister teams who could provide a more competitive field, not just at the front but all the way to the back as well.

Given the technical partnerships already, you could say that we are there already, just it hasn’t been named as such. It is no secret that Sauber have a close relationship with Ferrari, and the Haas team next year is buying as much as they can from the team, as well as getting their car designed by Dallara.

It would be interesting to see what happens with McLaren after the comments of Eric Boullier last week about his preference for customer teams. I am sure they would be very happy for their GP2 partner ART to make the jump to F1 in a low cost fashion with a year old McLaren.

Really we have to wake up and see what is happening. We have three teams, maybe four who are questionably in financial trouble. That is eight cars on the grid. F1 would be in a really poor state if that happens, so you have to seek a back up plan. Customer cars fits that bill nicely. You don’t have to stick with the rule forever, you could stipulate that you could only run a customer car for 2 or 3 years before making your own, but the option has to be there.

Formula One cant afford not to have a plan B.

#f1