Yeah, after test days at Mugello . One of reason why F1 cost much less than 6-7 years ago is ban in-season testing and freezing engines. We have 2012 year, where global economy is very bad shape and only Ferrari has tenths of millions $ from tobacco company.... Ferrari is also road cars manufacturer (with large facilities), which brings enormous profits at a time when other manufacturers are losing money. It is easy to say such nonsense comes when you have such facilities
For me case is very simple - LdM said what he said, because Ferrari interests are't necessarily aligned with the interests of other teams and Formula 1, which is in contrast to other World Champs (GT, WRC, MotoGP, WEC etc ) continues to grow, without problems with sponsors and still earn cash.
Luca is aware of the fact that the power of Ferrari comes from a powerful political force and the great facilities, which currently can not be used against the competition, like in the past (when two separate teams ran the test over and over thousands of kilometers Mugello and Fiorano without prying eyes of the rest of the competitors and FIA).
You might be right, and I do not wish to create false impression that I possess unique inside and understanding of LdM' politics, but it stands to a reason, a topic perhaps for another thread, that without testing F1 is on self-destructive course IMO, and will either in the future converge into another series, or we will see range of incremental changes soon. Tripartite commission that is currently in embryonic stage is just beginning of that journey (as I think), and for good reasons. People do not like what they see, however how they shall attack those issues without rocking boat too much is another thing, and remains to be seen.
Think of it this way – what I see in March and beyond is a lot of unfinished business after winter when prototypes have their wheels falling off, a condition which has been protracted from about three races initially just not too long ago, than six (season starts in EU), and this year I got an impression that some teams hasn’t recovered at all, and were struggling right through to the last race in Brazil. How much fun is that for anyone?
Mercedes, safe to presume, is in it to shine, and have their brand projected in best possible light. Without having a competitive car from GETGO is hurting them, and there will be some cut-off point when fun is over. Proper testing can alleviate a lot of pain, and much of embarrassment on the track. Simulator’s hasn’t done it as far as I can see, especially when those are of different sophistication from a team to team, whereas track millage is for real, a common denominator, where they all are on common ground.
Needless to say that I am one of very few around here who believes that there will be no F1 without manufacturers and them selling just engines to other minor teams goes only so far regarding promotion of a brand. Ferrari, LdM’s subject of interest, would be not very happy to compete against (what they would consider) unequal partners if big names leave, and ultimately they might disappear as well. You can imagine what will be left of once mighty F1, if not shadow of its former itself.
Finally, I am not sure how much more costly testing is, when compared with substitute technologies and methodology, but try to put price tag on all those redesigns and extra trials this year, including the embarrassment, and all of that just because there was not time to do something about it in January and February.
Of course you and others might disagree with me, but hopefully I have explained my view sufficiently.
Agree with you, Monte is right about testing. But he really shouldn't go on with his old stupid threats. No one believes him anymore.
) This cannot be a sport in which there is no longer testing on the track. We have run out of patience. We are car manufacturers, not sponsors. As Ecclestone said, 'it's a joke...'".
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