Ron says only factory backed teams can win F1 championship

[John S]

So doesn't F1 have customer cars already then?            

According to Ron Dennis there are now 2 classes in F1 the have's and have not's, and it all hinges around the engine supply.

In a longer article on F1times.co.uk about the subject he makes these telling comments, and he claims the source code holds the key. Guess access to it allowed Red Bull to intervene and help pump up the volume on their Renault squibs.   

"Even though you have the same brand of engine that does not mean you have the ability to optimise the engine."

"Effectively, if you don't have the control of that process, meaning access to source code, then you are not going to be able to stabilise your car in the entry to corners etc., and you lose lots of lap time. "Even though you have the same brand of engine that does not mean you have the ability to optimise the engine."

- See more at: http://www.f1times.co.uk/news/display/09476#sthash.Ap6Ppzzt.dpuf

[cosworth151]

Really, Ron? Is that why Mercedes is kicking your backside with the same engine? Sour grapes much?

[Monty]

He sort of has a point though doesn't he?
It is very rare for a Ferrari powered car to beat the Ferrari team, a Mercedes powered car to beat Mercedes or a Red Bull Renault powered car to beat Red Bull.
Indeed, I was interested to see how the decline of McLaren coincided with the emergence of the Mercedes team. No smoke without fire?

[Jericoke]

I've always preferred the idea of the engine supply being independant of the constructors, more or less for this reason.  (It's not just engine mappings, but designing components to fit just so from the get go.  Mercedes can build an engine to match the car, whereas McLaren has to build a car to match the engine)

Ideally each team would build their own cars and engines as an entire programme, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

I don't really see a solution to Ron's problem though.  It would be impossible to police Mercedes making a 'generic' engine mapping that doesn't favour their car over the McLaren car.   I'd hate to kick out Mercedes as an engine supplier or race team.  You'd have to do the same with Ferrari.

[Monty]

I've always preferred the idea of the engine supply being independant of the constructors

Make them all use Cosworth engines 

[cosworth151]

Hazzah! Hear, hear!   

[Jericoke]

I've always preferred the idea of the engine supply being independant of the constructors

Make them all use Cosworth engines 

They gave that a serious effort at the beginning of the V8 era, didn't they?