[F1] 26 cars from next season

[Malabbey]

Announced that there's to be 26 cars racing next season as opposed to the current 20. Each team can still only run 2 cars. First time in 15 years there's been this much cars racing apparently.
Also, budget for each team now $40million and not $30million.

[Fat Bloke]

That's only room for 26 cars, they haven't got 3 new teams yet.

[UKBoy]

Although there actually seems to have been some actual overtaking this season, what with the current financial situation and the mental rule bias in favour of a certain team, it would suprise me if there were any more than 16 cars on the grid next season.

Put a sensible budget cap on the sport and you might just see who the best driver is rather than who simply designed the best car.

My own preference would be for either a control engine or a control chassis.

[john316]

If I wanted identi-car racing, I'd watch A1GP racing.

F1 is all about technical excellence - this season has been an excellent example of the best designers completely outfoxing the big boys with the car designs. The more variety we get in the cars, the better it'll get.

[The Bear]

This season's form is only down to a major change in the technical rules though, and the fact the cars not racing for wins last season could start developing their new car earlier than the big teams.

Ultimately you can't compete with money, which is what the new budget cap is trying to stop. You'll still have technical excellence and different designs, but within new limits. None of the cars will be standardised like in A1GP.

[UKBoy]

If I wanted identi-car racing, I'd watch A1GP racing.

F1 is all about technical excellence - this season has been an excellent example of the best designers completely outfoxing the big boys with the car designs. The more variety we get in the cars, the better it'll get.

There's certainly as much, if not significantly more "racing" in A1GP than in most F1 seasons.

I think despite appearances to the contrary, F1 is still defined as a sport rather than an exercise in who can attract the biggest sponsors or spend the most money in developing and running a car/team.

I hear what you say about technical excellence but why bother when it can make the spectacle less exciting than watching cars go by from an overpass on the M25 ?.;)

[rgfinch]

If I wanted identi-car racing, I'd watch A1GP racing.

F1 is all about technical excellence - this season has been an excellent example of the best designers completely outfoxing the big boys with the car designs. The more variety we get in the cars, the better it'll get.

I don't understand this thing about "technical excellence" and F1's obsession with technology - I want to see the world's best drivers in extremely powerful cars - advanced technology on the cars just makes it less likely that drivers make mistakes and less likely that the wheat is sorted from the chaff. Traction control was an abomination and I'd have manual gearboxes with foot clutches back in a flash. It should be the driver's job to keep the car together, not a load of computers. Also ban refuelling and tyre stops - managing your car, preserving the tyres and brakes over a wide range of fuel load is a skill that the best drivers in the world should have and be forced to demonstrate.

[paulsaz]

The best drivers do manage their cars. You've only got to look at the steering wheels now compared to ten years ago to see how much work they do. When to use kers, when to adjust the wings. When to run lean, when to turn everything up to 11 and nail a few killer laps. Allright they get advice from the pits but thats always happened.

Strip the technology and freeze F1 somewhere in the late 80's and the manufacturers and sponsors would vanish faster Ferrari's title challenge. Besides it's a team sport and whilst the engineers go unsung they are competing just as hard as the drivers againt their opponents.

[stu_69]

That's only room for 26 cars, they haven't got 3 new teams yet.

USF1 (or whatever they are going to be called) have confirmed they are joining next season. Also Aston Martin (prodrive) are set to join next season. And the guy who owns Force India was making noise about funding another team.

I am sure they will have no trouble filling the grid next season.