Mansell: "F1 will face challenges without Ferrari"
- Published on 24 Jan 2018 13:28
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- By: Fergal Walsh
1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell believes that it is very important for F1 to keep Ferrari in the sport. The Italian manufacturer has threatened to quit following Liberty Media's engine schemes for 2021.
The Maranello-based squad has stood firm on its threats, claiming it would not be worthwhile staying if it felt F1 wasn't heading in the right direction. Mansell, who raced 31 Grands Prix with Ferrari, says it is vital they remain on the grid past 2020.
When questioned by Sky Sports if F1 could do without Ferrari, Mansell said: "Absolutely not. Formula 1 will have great challenges ahead if they let any manufacturer walk away.
"We only have 20 cars on the grid now. In the heyday there were 43 Formula 1 cars trying to qualify for 26 places. The fans worldwide are crying out to have 26 cars now. We need new drivers, new blood, new manufacturers to start competing on a level playing field."
With cost-cutting measures being a primary focus of Liberty Media's future for F1, Mansell hopes it will be enough to attract more manufacturers to the grid, claiming at least 26 cars are needed to compete in the field.
"We've got a backlog of great drivers wanting to come into Formula 1 and we need more manufacturers with at least 26 cars on the grid. Hopefully Liberty are going to get some new regulations that everyone will embrace and there will be a more level playing field where people can be competitive.
"There is something wrong with any sport when you have, as a good or bad example, an incredible team like McLaren who have won so many world championships and an incredible manufacturer of engines like Honda, they couldn't get it together. It shouldn't be that difficult."
Fergal Walsh
1
Replies (9)
Login to replyboudy
Posts: 1,168
If Ferrari went they would lose out more since they will not be entitled to their generous payback. If they left F1 than their worldwide exposure would drop substantially which is something that Ferrari wouldn't want. This is nothing more making sure that they remain competitive and keep others like mcLaren/Redbull wanting.
f1dave
Posts: 782
Entitled Ferrari are paid to participate. This needs to stop.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Absolutely, and I'm hoping that Liberty has the balls to tell them off. The preferential treatment over the years is not only wrong, but it has also damaged the sport.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Ferrari needs Formula 1 way more than F1 needs Ferrari. If the organizers manage to fix the show to bring exciting racing, while maintaining the glamorous prestigious image of the sport (including great brands), Ferrari can go on their merry way and watch as their brand washes away. Mr. Marchionne probably doesn't care because he's just a car executive, but Ferrari is an F1 team that happens to make road cars, not the other way around. That's part of the mystique of the brand.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I think they need one another far too much. For many, Ferrari is F1. I'd definitely find it to be a severe blow to both parts if they were to leave.
kngrthr
Posts: 203
you get good at sport by working hard. you can't bring the good guys back to the level of the others by restricting them.
thats just book keeping, not sport.
if honda can't make an engine its not the fault of the regulations, its their company structure and the people they employ.
if Ferrari and Mercedes leave i wonder if they will still make customer engines or just leave a huge vacuum.
just honda and Renault would be....
interesting?
RogerF1
Posts: 501
I think they would almost certainly take the engines with them. Couldn’t see the finances working for engines sales to be self sufficient without F1 chippping into the pot and it won’t give their marketing boys any returns. Joe public buys a car brand not the engine. But for the prospective independents who make a living out of designing and assembling engines life might look brighter.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
"if honda can't make an engine its not the fault of the regulations, its their company structure and the people they employ." I agree to an extent, except I dont think it applies now, under Hasegawa they had some serious restructuring and increase in personnel, and they were legit hurt by the regulations in 2015, when it only was by the grace of the FIA that they got any tokens at all.
Barron
Posts: 625
If Merc & Ferrari left it would leave a huge vacuum but in a sense that’s what F1 needs: to be broken completely then fixed properly. Reduce the dependence on manufacturers and limit them to producing engines for themselves only. To enable this the PU regs need to be eased so that the many top flight independent engine specialists can readily supply any team that wants them. I think a return to the twin turbo era with KERS would give more than enough power and noise. Fuel could be limited by something simple like tank size rather than complex fuel flow metering.
I have huge respect for Mansell but I think he’s wrong here..