no it's not the budget cap that is necessary, it's the budget management that needs redefining in light of the rules.
let us analyze for instance engine regulation. the rules stipulate a 2.4 liter V8 with a rev cap of 18000 rpm if memory serves correctly that should last X races. remove the X races and with half the money alloted to making it that durable the teams could extract more power and gain a competitive edge. the rest of the money would either be saved or spent on other areas. and trust me the cost of building 10 engines per year instead of say 2 is not that dear to the environment.
now extrapolate even more, remove the rev cap, and imagine those small rev happy engines unleashed to north of 22000 rpm, how much will it cost a team to make a 1000 bhp 2.4 liter V8 with 22K+ rpm that lasts a single race? think of it, with more variables in engine development you would have teams constatnly refining in an added 200 or so hp margin that would put all teams in equal capability to race and overtake.
all that without more spending.
now let us think inversely. next year refuelling is banned if my understanding is not flawed. how much will it cost to have a competitive engine that will last X races with a rev cap and drink so little fel as to stay on a single tank during a whole race?
now let us get at the big picture, all of this wil it be beneficial environmentally? is Ferrari going to be "greener" because it can build this said engine? or will renault be any less green with an average engine size sold at less than 1.8 liters if it raced with a gas uzzling 3.0 liter V10?
restrictions are bad for the budgets, at least on the short term, what mosley/bernie are aiming at is on the long run to standardize more than half of a formula one car. how many more refiniments can be got from a 2.4 V8 that lasts a season and uses a tankful per race and has its revs caped at 18K or so? there is point at which no more power can be extracted by any team unless they use ethanol or kerosen.
at this points it will be cheaper for teams to start outsourcing engine development to some unique constructor that will benefit from subsidizations and "economies of scale" (compared to single teams) especially when budgets will start to be strained.
extrapolate all i said to engines, gearboxes, aerodynamics, fuel tanks and the whole shebang and you see why F1 is becoming a dangerous place to be financially. Max and bernie are making it to an A1 GP clone little by little.
of course with the world economy going south and the genuine environmental concerns F1 needs to set an example, it cannot remain a dinosaur of a bygone era. but it also must not loose its clout.
what's wrong in freeing up the engine format for example? who cares if teams choose to run single pots or V16 engines? what is so environmentally bad if you remove the rev limit? you can keep the rule that stipulates engines must last X races. that will create a nice balance between friction, revs and sustainability.
its the whole shebang that is so messed up. it's a shame, 5 years ago i used to enjoy seeing montoya dicking himself in a 20K rpm v10 monster, nipping at schumi's ass who was so damn perfect it became painful to look at him.
let us analyze for instance engine regulation. the rules stipulate a 2.4 liter V8 with a rev cap of 18000 rpm if memory serves correctly that should last X races. remove the X races and with half the money alloted to making it that durable the teams could extract more power and gain a competitive edge. the rest of the money would either be saved or spent on other areas. and trust me the cost of building 10 engines per year instead of say 2 is not that dear to the environment.
now extrapolate even more, remove the rev cap, and imagine those small rev happy engines unleashed to north of 22000 rpm, how much will it cost a team to make a 1000 bhp 2.4 liter V8 with 22K+ rpm that lasts a single race? think of it, with more variables in engine development you would have teams constatnly refining in an added 200 or so hp margin that would put all teams in equal capability to race and overtake.
all that without more spending.
now let us think inversely. next year refuelling is banned if my understanding is not flawed. how much will it cost to have a competitive engine that will last X races with a rev cap and drink so little fel as to stay on a single tank during a whole race?
now let us get at the big picture, all of this wil it be beneficial environmentally? is Ferrari going to be "greener" because it can build this said engine? or will renault be any less green with an average engine size sold at less than 1.8 liters if it raced with a gas uzzling 3.0 liter V10?
restrictions are bad for the budgets, at least on the short term, what mosley/bernie are aiming at is on the long run to standardize more than half of a formula one car. how many more refiniments can be got from a 2.4 V8 that lasts a season and uses a tankful per race and has its revs caped at 18K or so? there is point at which no more power can be extracted by any team unless they use ethanol or kerosen.
at this points it will be cheaper for teams to start outsourcing engine development to some unique constructor that will benefit from subsidizations and "economies of scale" (compared to single teams) especially when budgets will start to be strained.
extrapolate all i said to engines, gearboxes, aerodynamics, fuel tanks and the whole shebang and you see why F1 is becoming a dangerous place to be financially. Max and bernie are making it to an A1 GP clone little by little.
of course with the world economy going south and the genuine environmental concerns F1 needs to set an example, it cannot remain a dinosaur of a bygone era. but it also must not loose its clout.
what's wrong in freeing up the engine format for example? who cares if teams choose to run single pots or V16 engines? what is so environmentally bad if you remove the rev limit? you can keep the rule that stipulates engines must last X races. that will create a nice balance between friction, revs and sustainability.
its the whole shebang that is so messed up. it's a shame, 5 years ago i used to enjoy seeing montoya dicking himself in a 20K rpm v10 monster, nipping at schumi's ass who was so damn perfect it became painful to look at him.
