Super Aguri eye F1 return

[Dare]

This should make a few people happy


Wednesday 6th May 2009    Planet F1
 
The FIA's proposed budget cap looks like it is having the desired effect as several teams are considering a return to Formula One.


Super Aguri have become the latest team to hint that they might give F1 another go next season.


The Honda-powered team withdrew from last year's Championship after running into financial difficulties. However, former team owner Aguri Suzuki has told Japanese media that a return to F1 could be on the cards.


"If it's physically possible I would certainly like to (return to Formula One)," Suzuki told the Sankei Sports.


Prodrive and Lola have already indicated that they are tempted to return after the FIA decided to implement a £40million budget cap.


The FIA also announced there would be space for three new teams on the 2010 grid, potentially increasing the number of cars to 26.

[Jericoke]

Will they have to wait for TV money too?

I'm looking forward to grid of 26 competitive cars!

[Dare]

Will they have to wait for TV money too?

I'm looking forward to grid of 26 competitive cars!

How would you feel about unlimited teams with
only the top 26 cars being in the race?

[Jericoke]

How would you feel about unlimited teams with
only the top 26 cars being in the race?

Or the return of the 107% rule?

Unlimited entries would go against the saving money/being green thing though.  All that money and fuel to ship a car/team that doesn't race?

From a spectators point of view though, I'd love to see it!

[Monty]

I would like unlimited entries with everyone allowed to race.
With the blue flag system, back-markers almost have to jump off the road so more cars (even if they were slower) would not pose a problem.
For us spectators, there would be more to see and hear.

[cosworth151]

One of the major limiting factors is the lack of pit and garage space. The circuits only have so many spaces, and many have little if any room for more.

Few sponsors would put large amounts of money into a car that wasn't assured of a spot on the grid. Add in the cost of shipping cars, crew and kit off to the far corners of the world and the idea of doing it like they used to quickly disappears.

[Jericoke]

Super Aguri, Prodrive, Lola, USGP... 4 teams, 3 slots, who's going to get them?

Is there a chance Bernie might toss out an existing team to make room?  (Red Bull DOES own 2 teams, and it's my understanding that Brawn is still in a tenuous position)

[Scott]

I think SA would be the loser among those four.  Most importantly because of the lack of backing (unless of course Honda saw it as a way to jump back in now that they see they jumped out at the wrong point).

[Steven Roy]

Circuits are only licensed to practise 30 cars and race 26 although that has probably been cut since the stupid franchise system was introduced.

I wonder how many of the new teams that have been announced have been encouraged by Bernie or Max to say that they are going to enter.  USGPE I believe.  Prodrive if they can raise the budget I believe.  All of the others I am extremely dubious about.

[Alianora La Canta]

The number of cars a track may have is limited by the length and width of the track according to a formula specified in Appendix O of the International Sporting Code. 30 practising and 26 racing is the minimum necessary to get the Grade 1 needed to host an F1 race. However, some tracks (like Spa and Shanghai for length and width reasons respectively) could have more than that on track at a time.