Ferrari only car manufacturer in f1

[Guest]

Caps lock is activated.

[gato]

What do you think about that: Ferrari is only car manufacturer in f1. Toyota, Honda and BMW have retired, Renault has sold lots of the team away. Mercedes will establish own team. What is future of this sport if there is only one big team with own cars? will the level decrease becuause now there are small teams who has financial problems and they may retire before the season has even started!

[Williamsfan]

Well, the Mercedes team is up and running for this year so they should be counted as being in F1.  As for having mostly independent teams, I am all for it as that is the spirit of F1, but I think more needs to be done to make sure the 'right' smaller teams get let in so we get people who can compete as opposed to people who are politically acceptable!

[cosworth151]

F1 has averaged 10 teams for most of the past decade, so we'll still be ahead of that.

I'd rather see privateers in the sport. Their sole purpose for existence is to race. The manufacturers are in it for the advert value, and can pull out of F1 at a moment's notice. Toyota, Honda, BMW and Jaguar have all proved that in recent years.

[Jericoke]

F1 has averaged 10 teams for most of the past decade, so we'll still be ahead of that.

I'd rather see privateers in the sport. Their sole purpose for existence is to race. The manufacturers are in it for the advert value, and can pull out of F1 at a moment's notice. Toyota, Honda, BMW and Jaguar have all proved that in recent years.

McLaren is also a car manufacturer.  They might not have the same history as Ferrari, but an F1 team moving into 'super cars' is the same script.

Since I started watching F1 they have lost Tyrrel, Benneton, Super Aguri, Prost, Stewart Spyker, Midland, Jordan, BAR, Sauber (since regained) and Minardi (and European Mindardi).  That's more privateers lost than manufacturers and I'm sure I'm missing some.  Are you sure they're more stable?

In fact, only three teams have been constantly in the sport since I started watching in 1996:  Ferrari, McLaren and Williams.  2/3 of which are manufacturers.

[cosworth151]

Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are the only three teams still around that were in the sport 10 years ago.

[Jericoke]

Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are the only three teams still around that were in the sport 10 years ago.

With hope that we don't have to find out for a long long time, do you believe that Williams will continue as Williams once Frank is no longer involved with the team?

What factors would it depend on? 

I know that Ferrari had a long rich history before Enzo passed on, and was already a brand name corporate entity involved with Fiat, but what about McLaren?  How did Bruce's name survive?

[Williamsfan]

I guess it would depend on whoever takes over from Sir Frank and how much they value the name.  I wonder if that is why Toto Wolff was brought in now to give him time to get used to the name and the values of the team ahead of any future take over so that he'll stick with tradition. 

[John S]

I know that Ferrari had a long rich history before Enzo passed on, and was already a brand name corporate entity involved with Fiat, but what about McLaren?  How did Bruce's name survive?

Because McLaren sounds a whole lot better than "Project 4" the name of Ron's company that took over the McLaren team from Teddy Meyer. 

[Hampster]

Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are the only three teams still around that were in the sport 10 years ago.

and sauber!

[cosworth151]

Back when I posted that, BMW had pulled out & Sauber's future was looking quite dim. I'm glad they made it back. 

[SennaMan]

F1 has averaged 10 teams for most of the past decade, so we'll still be ahead of that.

I'd rather see privateers in the sport. Their sole purpose for existence is to race. The manufacturers are in it for the advert value, and can pull out of F1 at a moment's notice. Toyota, Honda, BMW and Jaguar have all proved that in recent years.

right on Cossie! 

[Dare]

you could say Honda, BMW and Jaguar survived
if only in spirit only just as Toyota would have
thru Stefan

[Jericoke]

you could say Honda, BMW and Jaguar survived
if only in spirit only just as Toyota would have
thru Stefan

It is unusual in the last decade for an F1 team to completely die, isn't it?  Most of the teams on the grid took over existing operations.

How many were brand new teams?

Williams?  Sauber (as an extension of BMW)?  Of course Lotus, HRT and Virgin.

McLaren was a merger of teams... I suppose McLaren or Project 4 were original teams.

[John S]

you could say Honda, BMW and Jaguar survived
if only in spirit only just as Toyota would have
thru Stefan

It is unusual in the last decade for an F1 team to completely die, isn't it?  Most of the teams on the grid took over existing operations.

How many were brand new teams?

Williams?  Sauber (as an extension of BMW)?  Of course Lotus, HRT and Virgin.

McLaren was a merger of teams... I suppose McLaren or Project 4 were original teams.

Project 4 was a Formula 2 team set up by Ron Dennis and with Malboro's financial backing took over the McLaren operation in 1981 , they decided to keep the existing name I suppose because Malboro saw more marketing potential with an established F1 name. McLaren cars were consistent winners in Can Am in the US and had a good record in F1, at least up to 1976. 

The cars during Ron's era have all carried MP4 prefix on their identification, it stands for Malboro Project 4. this distinguishes them from the previous McLaren cars. Since they have parted ways with Malboro Macca now say the MP4 stands for McLaren Project 4, this history re-write is similar to the Merc Silver Arrows paint stripping yarn.

Other new F1 teams from scratch were Jordan in 91, Stewart in 96 both had teams in lower formulae before launching into the big league. After several owners the teams are still running under the names FIF1 and RBR.