McLaren Threaten to Quit ...

[Calman]

Like myself, are you all getting a bit sick & tired of these "threaten to quit" quotes from teams up and down the grid??? ... I've lost count now, but in the last 24 months, Haas, Red Bull, Ferrari and now McLaren are throwing the toys out of the pram.   If this keeps up, maybe Williams have a chance of getting back to the front (sorry Luke!).

I fully appreciate that some team's threats have substance, but c'mon, it's getting a bit OLD.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1104682/McLaren-F1-news-Ferrari-Zak-Brown-Liberty-Media

Best Regards,
Cal

[Jericoke]

Bernie was a master of making sure that each and every team felt like they were getting 'the best' of each Concorde.

Of course, his secret was to keep each individual deal secret, wasn't it?

[Calman]

Hmm, well ...

Oh yes, I missed out Renault, as Cyril made some rumblings about his team quitting F1 (argument relating to sister teams?? ... can't honestly remember Renault's dispute!).

Best Regards,
Cal

[guest3164]

I am threatening to quit unless Cal makes his criticisms of the teams more balanced and equal so there is a fair share of jesting in all directions.   

[Alianora La Canta]

This is typical conduct in the run-up to a new version of the baseline agreements in F1. Remember 2009 (the beginning of what turned out to be a 3-year process), when we nearly lost every team except Force India at one point, and it turned out Force India had signed up for the non-limited version of the regulations and thus messed up Max Moseley's plans?

[rmassart]

I just read over on the BBC about trying to introduce a budget cap (https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/47691443).

I never fully understood how that would work. How on earth do you put a cap on the amount of money Ferrari or Mercedes spend on developing their engines. Any cap can easily be worked around.

I wonder whether we need to go in the direction of thinking of teams as "integrators" of off the shelf parts. All parts should be available to all teams and they buy the ones they think are the best. Each manufacturer would have to produce enough parts to cover a minimal demand. Eg engines:  a manufacturer would have to produce "X" engines per team that they are partnered with (plus a minimum of engines, eg 3X). These engines would cost a fix amount to all the teams. The engines are sealed, then go in a basket and are assigned at random to the teams paying for them (to prevent manufacturers adapting the engines for the works team).  Each time there is an improvement to the engine, the process starts again.

I am fully aware that this is quite complex and all rather back of the envelope thinking, but we will never get rid of the "big 3" unless the connection between manufacturers and teams is cut.

[Alonsofan]

Oh this again 
Every year someone always threatens to quit. Problem is everyone wants more and no one is willing to have less.
In my opinion this sport has never been fair. There has always been the top dogs, middle of the road and bottom teams. Something needs to change though because the gap is just getting bigger.

[Jericoke]

Oh this again 
Every year someone always threatens to quit. Problem is everyone wants more and no one is willing to have less.
In my opinion this sport has never been fair. There has always been the top dogs, middle of the road and bottom teams. Something needs to change though because the gap is just getting bigger.

The trick with economics is that it's not a 'zero sum game'.  Liberty's job is to make the pie as big as possible so that everyone's slice gets bigger.  I'd rather take 10 percent of a billion dollars than 50 percent of a million.

The best way to make the 'pie' bigger is to get everyone moving in the same direction and grow the sport.  For good or bad, F1's marquee name is Ferrari, and having Ferrari involved, and competitive, brings in money for everyone. It's worth it to McLaren, Williams et all to make Ferrari happy, because it increases their own income.  And Mercedes and Red Bull bring a lot of brand recognition to the sport, and provide competition so it's not just all Ferrari all the time, so making THEM happy is important too.

Ideally F1 needs to grow apart from the teams.  Casual fans will watch a variety of sports irregardless of who's competing.  F1 needs to aim for that, and it takes the non-Ferrari teams to become 'bigger' names. That really needs to be on the teams themselves.

[TimmyTime]

Always been one rule for Ferrari and one for everyone else and they still can't win since 08 constructors 
FIA Ferrari International Assistance more like.
Thing is teams like McLaren are winners. More money of a bigger pie is good but as the pie gets bigger so does the gap if it is worked on percentages. I say split it fairly and let Ferrari moan if they do and quit bye bye I won't miss you. Also take your finger wagger with you!

British based teams just produce better cars what can I say. Maybe I am just over patriotic

#Believe in Britain....pass that on to Theresa please

[Calman]

Ooooh, British Politics, Lovely!!! 

So, what will occur 1st, Following distances in F1 will improve - or - Brexit will finally be OVER.

I do find it hilarious that the majority of Scotland voted to stay in the EU, England's majority voted to leave, while London wanted to stay - the very venue of ... well, you know the rest!!

Best Regards,
Cal

Best Regards,
Cal

[John S]

Ooooh, British Politics, Lovely!!! 

So, what will occur 1st, Following distances in F1 will improve - or - Brexit will finally be OVER.

I do find it hilarious that the majority of Scotland voted to stay in the EU, England's majority voted to leave, while London wanted to stay - the very venue of ... well, you know the rest!!

Best Regards,
Cal

Best Regards,
Cal

Can't let this Scotland nonsense cloud judgements anymore, the East of England - a designated region by EU rules - with same or slightly bigger population to Scotland voted out as did other similarly sized regions of England.
Scotland just like Ferrari always wants to feel they are more important than the figures suggest.    …… rant over. 

In answer to your first question is both will take a very long time :-
(1) Even if present EU deal accepted it's only transition, a framework to work in whilst permanent treaties are decided. So years and years there.
(2) Law of diminishing returns seems to apply in F1 rules, try to slow cars down or stop downforce and the opposite seems to take place.
How many years til they work out allowing the designers to find more speed unrestricted might have opposite effect - cars might prove unstable or unable to be handled by the drivers. 
Teams might then make the drivers reduce the number of shunts and offs from these superquick monster machines by driving them like they're chauffeuring Miss Daisy. 

[Calman]

You have to "be" Scottish, as judgements from the outside are pointless.  One day we will rule the world.

Okay, so I'll put my jab stick back in it's case ... for now!! 

Best Regards,
Cal

[TimmyTime]

Ooooh, British Politics, Lovely!!! 

So, what will occur 1st, Following distances in F1 will improve - or - Brexit will finally be OVER.

I do find it hilarious that the majority of Scotland voted to stay in the EU, England's majority voted to leave, while London wanted to stay - the very venue of ... well, you know the rest!!

Best Regards,
Cal

Best Regards,
Cal

Hopefully Brexit ASAP with no deal 

52% voted to leave or 65% of constituencies voted to leave. Either way we leave.

As for the following distances, as long as Hamilton is in front they can stay forever 

[Calman]

I think Hammy may be eager for a convincing win this weekend Timmy!

So, whatever Ferrari are/were holding back, let's hope we see some close racing at the front this coming weekend.

Oh yeah, c'mon Danny Ric ... we need you close to the front too (well, top 7-8 to start with).

Best Regards,
Cal

[Alianora La Canta]

I voted Remain and am even more solidly Remain than I was two years ago (my constituency has veered from solid Leave to what appears to be solid Remain in that time)... ...but I don't want to wreck this thread with a political argument. (All I'm going to say at this juncture is that TimmyTime should be happy as Theresa appears to be trying to force a hard Brexit through the back door, because the Tories wouldn't accept it through the front door).

As for the arrangement provided, I think F1 gaps will reduce first, if only because that might happen by 2030.