New 'customer cars' idea dead - report
Photo by: XPB Images
Jun.14 (GMM) A new 'customer car' plan for F1's future is dead in the water, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports.
Bernie Ecclestone revealed recently that he is planning to allow small teams to buy year-old customer cars in the next Concorde Agreement.
But the F1 chief executive acknowledged the dilemma that teams taking up that option would most likely all flock to the best constructors, resulting in a dearth of constructors on the grid.
"The way I'm imagining it, this would not be possible," Ecclestone said recently. "I'll tell you about it soon."
His plan may now never see the light of day.
Auto Motor und Sport reports that the customer car issue is once again dead for now.
The report said Ferrari and Red Bull were also championing the idea, which would have included McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus and Williams also designated as F1's official constructors.
The other half of the grid - Sauber, Force India, Toro Rosso, Marussia, Caterham and HRT - would have had to buy their single seaters 'off the shelf'.
The report said Sauber and Force India protested the loudest.
"Who is going to forbid them from making cars?" German reporter Tobias Gruner said.
"Some teams were even threatening with a move to a EU court," he revealed.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments