10 replies to this topic

[Sphinx]

Regarding this comment:

Others were making their own negative assessment of the Formula One points system. "It's not that we don't like F1," said Peugeot's Corrado Provera at the end of the season, "but only six cars score points at every race. Four of those are regularly the two Ferraris and McLarens, and so there are only two places left for everybody else. In order to achieve those points, the cost per point, so to speak - for fifth and sixth places - has become stratospheric. The category has become too onerous on the level of budgets. So we have decided to direct our already considerable motorsport budget toward something other than F1."

What a sorry attitude to have when trying to compete in such a competitive sport. Whether you score a few points or no points for being 7th, 8th and so on, the point is to try and make a team WIN. Assuming that the red and black cars will almost always be 1st-4th is an attitude that will certainly keep a team from winning. In the world of sports, things can change so quickly. Who knows which team will be on top in 3-4 years??

Good thing Peugeot did pull out. Hopefully Prost will have better fortune in 2001 and beyond.

[Pirate Smee 2000]

To score any points you first have to have an engine that can make it to the end. And when it does it's so slow that you'd need the top 15 to get points for Peugeot to get any.

Good Riddance Stinky Smelly Peugeot!

[Megatron]

Peugeot made a lot of questionable descions while they were in F1 and have since flaked Prost and F1 in general.

I remember they came extremely close to signing thier own car and chassis deal in 1994, but decided just to be engine supplier.

If you can't take the F1 heat, get out. In todays world, there is no room for half hearted, tight pocked suppliers like Peugeot who appear to be a "real" manufactur.

[Joe Fan]

Good, I couldn't pronounce their name anyway.;)

[Piquet_1]

I don't like all of what that guy said, but guys, Peugeot won't be the last to leave F1 with that same attitude. Who's next? BMW, M-B, Honda? The only truth is that Ferrari will stay. Thank god Ferrari is supplying two teams in addition to their own or we might be looking at a total of 8 or 9 teams on the grid in 2000. Ferrari is the new Cosworth, who would have thunk it?

Only so many teams can win regardless of the competitiveness, and most can't afford to stick around in wait for the top guys to fail or leave. Everyone knows Honda won't stay once/if success is found - who will supply BAR and Jordan when they leave? Renault has had two engine programs in the past two decades - both have been withdrawn in fewer than 10 years. Who will take their place *when* htey withdraw the third time? M-B has withdrawn from CART, they're not paying Ilmore enough (so little that they need to tune IRL engines) and are losing with the Chrysler buyout (what merger?) M-B can't afford to lose when they've already won. When they leave there will be fewer manufacturers than there are at this time due to the mergers taking place, so who's going to take their place who isn't in already?

What I take to heart in regards to the Peugeot boss' comments is the amount of airtime each manufacturer gets. Hey, they're putting forth a great deal of effort, but F1 shows Ferrari and M-B 90% of the time during a race broadcast. We as spectators don't like it, and the manufacturers, who are there for marketing reasons as opposed to racing reasons, don't like it either since they don't get the exposure. This falls squarely on F1's shoulders. Sure, you can make the argument that in order to get the exposure you need to win, but that flies in the face of all those who justify the money spent in F1 is due to it being a business and not a sport. If it's indeed a business, then F1 needs to support those businesses which support it - it must become a partnership of sorts between the maufacturers and F1. As I said, regardless of the effort being put forth, only so many manufacturers can win at a single time, and fewer can justify losing and not having the sport promote them. It's in F1's best interest to take care of the manufacturers.

[Indian Chief]

It's in F1's best interest to take care of the manufacturers.

How do you suggest they do that? Surely Bernie can't fix races! Imagine "BMW, its your turn in Australia and in Brazil, its going to be Honda. AT Imola, we'll try to get a Mercedes win......AND REMEMBER, TRY TO MAKE A CLOSE FINISH"

[DangerMouse]

The only way of giving all the manufacturers a chance of winning is by re-allowing Turbos or allowing 5 Litre engines(Too much power is too much power!) and with very limited electronics (certainly no TC, or electronic throttles.) Then severely restrict aerodynamics - single element wings built to a pattern defined by the FIA with no curved surfaces - in other words a flat plank with end plates to act as a Bill board to keep sponsers happy.

That type of wing would create just as much drag as it does downforce!

No rear defusers, barge boards, winglets or aerodynamic suspention struts.

And bring back slicks at the same time banning fuel stops.

[miniman]

I, for one, am going to miss Peugeot. The lack of success by Prost last year can not be attributed solely to exploding Peugeot engines. How much of it was due to driver error, chasis derived cooling problems, electronic malfunctions, gear box faults etc. the possibilities are endless.

Peugeot just won the world rallying championship, they obviously have some competent engineers on staff. They would certainly do much better in a decent chassis or with other than second rate drivers. To their credit they aren't pointing any fingers.

[FlatFoot]

Originally posted by miniman
The lack of success by Prost last year can not be attributed solely to exploding Peugeot engines. How much of it was due to driver error, chasis derived cooling problems, electronic malfunctions, gear box faults etc. the possibilities are endless.

Unfortunately, the lack of success can be mainly contributed to the fact that Peugeot was far behind schedule preparing the 2000 powerplant...and hence didn't deliver the goods until AFTER the chasis design was completed (late January if I'm not mistaken.)

[miniman]

True enough but if my memory serves me, it was the desire of Prost either for political of financial reasons to have an all French team and thus begged a reluctant Peugeot to stay on in F1. There are no heroes or villans in this sad saga, only a lot of finger pointing mainly on AP's side.

[Piquet_1]

Originally posted by Indian Chief

It's in F1's best interest to take care of the manufacturers.

How do you suggest they do that? Surely Bernie can't fix races! Imagine "BMW, its your turn in Australia and in Brazil, its going to be Honda. AT Imola, we'll try to get a Mercedes win......AND REMEMBER, TRY TO MAKE A CLOSE FINISH"

That's not at all what I'm suggesting. Merely increased TV coverage of anyone other than the top four positions would help those who are not at the front to justify continuation of their programs. You're going to have a difficult time convincing the corporate boards to even try to win if they are getting zero exposure for the millions these programs cost. If we complain that we don't get to see the battles further down the field (unless there's an accident) how do you think the guys writing the checks feel about their investment?