BMW, Honda 80s versus BMW, Honda 2006
#1
Posted 03 August 2012 - 14:17
In the last years there were also many car companies in F1, like Toyota, Honda, BMW and Ford - but all with own racing teams! In the 80s there were no own racing teams, they supported teams like McLaren or Williams.
Why is there a difference between the 80s and the last years?
My opinion: The rules are very regulated that there are not allowed many various engine concepts. So there is not that big challenge on the engine side, engines are not as important as in the 80s. So they had to build also chassis.
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#2
Posted 03 August 2012 - 14:28
British American Tobacco took that approach and gradually sold shares in the teams to Honda until it was fully Honda.
On the other hand, you are then on the hook for expenses when you pull out, when Honda did. Whereas someone like ING or a normal engine supplier can just leave and isn't responsible for what happens afterwards.
That all said I'm surprised people like Ford/Cosworth, Honda, Toyota, and BMW didn't stay in F1 with their engines. Particularly the latter manufacturers with the engine freeze. The engines were still useful, just sell them to teams. Which is basically what Renault does.
#3
Posted 03 August 2012 - 19:04
If you're going to spend all that money on something, you might as well own it.
Err, yes. Recall that McLaren teased Mercedes, and that when Honda gifted Brawn an F1 team, Mercedes were quick to sweep in. Given that Mercedes and McLaren have different long term interests, it was a logical happening.
Returning to history, manufacturers dip into F1 with their own chassis if they feel that other categories (the FIA/DTM version of super saloons or Le Mans style sports prototype racing) do not meet their marketing requirements. F1 has never been the be all and end all of motor sport; you don't have to be a rallying historian to recall when it was the subject of mass advertising campaigns for volume car manufacturers.
#4
Posted 04 August 2012 - 15:36
Think about it: Have Toyota benefited in any way from their involvement in Formula 1? The lack of success won't have increased sales.
They might gain a marginal benefit from the increased exposure of the brand but trackside advertising would be more cost effective. The only possible benefit lies in training their engineers to make decisions themselves under tight time constraints.
Surely the Renault approach must be cost effective - a race is won by a Red Bull-Renault, a Lotus-Renault or a Williams-Renault while it is lost by a Red Bull, Lotus or Williams.
And current TV coverage which always mentions the drivers and rarely mentions the cars and even then hardly ever mentions the engines.
Edited by D-Type, 05 August 2012 - 16:04.
#5
Posted 05 August 2012 - 12:48
#6
Posted 05 August 2012 - 20:21
I haven't seen any use of the Infiniti link for promotion or marketing. But that is just in the UK where the Infiniti brand isn't used. Are they using RBR successes to promote Infiniti in other markets?I dont know that Renault get that much, if any, credit for those teams winning. Though it gives them the ability to shout about it in advertisements. The main beneficiary is Infiniti(a subdivision of Renault-Nissan) via their Red Bull involvement.
#7
Posted 05 August 2012 - 21:29
Have you looked at Infiniti's UK website recently? http://www.infiniti....?cmp=google_ppcI haven't seen any use of the Infiniti link for promotion or marketing. But that is just in the UK where the Infiniti brand isn't used. Are they using RBR successes to promote Infiniti in other markets?
#8
Posted 05 August 2012 - 22:39
I haven't seen any use of the Infiniti link for promotion or marketing. But that is just in the UK where the Infiniti brand isn't used. Are they using RBR successes to promote Infiniti in other markets?
I saw a print ad in the (I think)Times a few weeks ago, but that may have been a Brit GP thing. They run some Vettel-Infiniti ads in America from time to time, mainly around race broadcasts.
#9
Posted 06 August 2012 - 09:10
Here's another example of Infiniti not using the Red Bull link! http://www.youtube.c...player_embeddedHave you looked at Infiniti's UK website recently? http://www.infiniti....?cmp=google_ppc
#10
Posted 06 August 2012 - 12:36
I saw a print ad in the (I think)Times a few weeks ago, but that may have been a Brit GP thing. They run some Vettel-Infiniti ads in America from time to time, mainly around race broadcasts.
British Eurosport were running the advert in almost every break during their coverage of the Tour de France.