Three cars option for "big" teams: Desperation or Trouble in F1?

Looking at what Bernie said, he wants compulsory third cars for the best financed teams, which are Toyota, Ferrari, McLaren & BMW. Would the others be given the option, and what legal nightmares could that unleash? Would some teams refuse to run a third car, and would some protest at not being allowed?

I would love to see three cars per team allowed, I've been on about it in here for a long time. I wouldn't want it to be a compulsory third entry at every race, the teams should be able to choose when to run three cars and when to run two.

The problems for the teams are logistical: the extra effort and expense of running three cars could detract from the preparation of all the cars.

Also the pit lane would be a problem: the big teams are used to having 3 garages for 2 cars, so they would either have to have a fourth garage (which may be too many at some circuits), or they would have to bring less junk with them...pit stops at Monaco could get interesting if there were suddenly 24 entries again.

A more general problem would be the constructors' cup: would the third car count for constructors' cup points or not?

And who would drive? That is where the conjecture becomes more interesting. I'm not sure that the big teams would put a novice into the third car - Renault running both Grosjean and Piquet seems a little extreme, and I doubt Ferrari would bother with Gene given his race record, or Badoer given his age AND race record. McLaren have a ready-made third race driver in De la Rosa, and three drivers per team would solve RB/TR's problem over Bourdais and Sato. Someone would almost certainly pick up Jenson Button as well...maybe a return to Renault, or the Renault-powered RB? It could also be a way back for Davidson and Winkelhock. It may even let rent-a-drivers from India and Japan get a seat without compromising the competitiveness of a team.

EDIT

Schumi just said on German TV last week that he retired because he didn't have the motivation to drive cars any more and that he found that he didn't miss all the stuff that goes on around you when you are an F1 driver. If he did make a shock comeback then I think he'd be like Lauda - competitive immediately.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. On one hand, it would seem that a third car would create an unfair advantage for the teams that are allowed to have them. First, I have this picture in my head of Ron Dennis grinning an evil grin and making up his team orders. I am not saying that Ferrari is above that kind of thing, but it's easier to imagine Ron Dennis's evil grin. Second, I thought that F1 was trying to cut costs in light of the global economic crisis. Third, how would the points work out? Why would a team put money into a car that can't help them in the constructors' cup?

On the other hand, it sure would put the crews through their paces, and it would make pit strategies much more intricate for the bigger crews. Having a bigger field would certainly make for more interesting racing, so long as there is good talent in the extra cars. Besides, we could have two McLaren drivers to complain about King Lewis and an extra underachieving Ferrari driver.

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I'll have a go Bern!!

Seriously though (although the above would be serious if someone asked me!), Rosbif has covered most points, but I wonder what would develop re; blocking tactics, etc during a race....

As for Schumi coming back - I'd say "not a chance". What with no more TC, Alonso probably driving/setting up even better now than previously, and the new Young Blood coming thru, he wouldn't wish to tarnish his reputation....he's too proud for that.

He is getting on a bit now and it'll show!

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