An interesting idea for a protest.

[Gambit]

You know what would be a big eye opener for the brassheads? When race day comes. Ferrari goes on the grid, But the rest of the teams don't even bother and stay in the garage and let Ferrari just do their laps and Michael once more punch the air in victory. Wouldn't F1 look dumb there? I could already see a fumeing Mosley if such a thing. And would be a big cry for reform.
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The great buisiness of life is to be, to do, to do without, and to depart.
-Morely John.

[Mr Nigel]

Would the last sponsor to leave please turn out the lights.

[Pump Daddy J]

To Mr Nigel - Only one word is required to sum up THAT response - "Priceless"
R
PDJ

[Gambit]

Oh come on, I know that would never happen. But have a little imagination. It would be quite interesting to see.
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The great buisiness of life is to be, to do, to do without, and to depart.
-Morely John.

[xynaria]

For it to actually happen would be hilarious...however unlikely.... and seriously.. given the publicity it would generate.. would the sponsors be that unhappy providing the end result was the kick up the arse many involved in F1 arguably could do with.

[tiggers]

Rather than protesting the other teams would be far better getting on with designing cars that might actually be able to challenge Ferrari.

The current situation is not Ferrari's fault - it is the fault of just about everyone else - teams, organisers etc.

Ferrari have just built the best team and car under the current regulations it's as simple as that.

[JJ Ligier]

Amen to that Tiggers!!

I am not a Ferrari fan, but you have to respect that fact they have delivered back-to-back-to-back-to-...the finest racecar in F1 when others have floundered.

Does Ferrari have the best chassis on pitlane? No, they say that accolade goes to Renault. Does Ferrari have the most powerful engine on pitlane? Again no, they say that award belongs to BMW. So what does Ferrari have? Okay, they have Michael, and he's worth what in terms of seconds/lap?? Give him half a second/lap over the next best driver, perhaps that's too generous, let's say 1/4 sec/lap. That still doesn't allow for the complete domination that Ferrari are currently displaying with the package they're running. Or perhaps that's the operative word, ... "package", or is it continuity?

Whatever it might be, I'm sure it's giving fits to the likes of Mr. Newey, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Head, etc. Why are all these top notch designers being left in the dust? Well, Ferrari had their dry spell while the likes of John Barnard and Adrian Newey enjoyed their glory.

So Ferrari, enjoy the glory while the rest play catch up, as Ferrari played catch up for so many years. The pendulum will swing the other way eventually ...just for some of us, it can't swing fast enough!

[Paul Thurston]

You have to admire the setup at Ferrari but what often gets forgotten are the things Ferrari have which noone else does - or can get. Here's a few examples in no particular order:

1: Test track at the factory:

Ferrari can make a part, take it outside and see if it works. No other team has that. If they have daylight they can test. Shaking down cars is a doddle.

They have it because they've always had it. There's a superb little video floating round the Net of Fangio testing there in the 50's. In this day and age You'd never get permission to build one and it would cost tens of millions to build if you could.

2: The Name:

Ferrari is Ferrari is Ferrari. That gives them a massive advantage when chasing sponsors. Ask Eddie Jordan.

That helps them get a bigger budget. Other teams have to rely on success alone.

3: History

Ferrari have been around since year zero. Williams or McLaren leaving F1 would be awful but F1 would survive. But Ferrari leaving? Unthinkable. That gives them enormous leverage which they use when required. And when they do the FIA are forced to listen.

If you want to know what the current Ferrari team can do with a normal team's resources, look at Benetton in the early 90's. They were good enough to win the Championship then. With Ferrari's advantages they're simply unbeatable.

It did make me laugh last year when Ross Brawn started off about wanting a level playing field when he wanted nothing of the sort.

Paul

[rainy165]

good post paul but u forgot to mention that they also run a B team and as such have up to 5 cars testing tyres at each event

[tiggers]

And Michelin have how many top teams testing their tyres?????

Please don't let's drag this down the 'everything Ferrari do is cheating - they get everything their own way ....' route.

For one it's been done to death elsewhere and for two it's just not true. As I mentioned above Ferrari have simply maximised their potential within the rules - it's really not their fault.

For instance if the Sauber connection gives them such an advantage why don't the FIA issue some rules to prevent the situation or why doesn't McLaren form a patnership with Jordan?

They are just doing their job better than anyone else so blame anyone you want to for the situation, but not Ferrari!!!!

[Rob]

Ferrari have another advantage, a passion for cars and racing.

This is not the same as a lust for money and power.

Anyway, the fight for second place can be very entertaining.
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It's F1, Jim, but not as we know it.

[Sean Brian Kirby]

What would the other teams be protesting, Gambit? Their own ineptitude? Oh yeah, that's harsh - but Ferrari's not the one making them not as good as Ferrari. (Well, they are, but... you know what I mean.) If they're falling behind, that's the whole problem: Get out there and race!

[bertlovesf1]

I think, if Malaysia proved anything, it was that Ferrari are not massively more competitive than anyone else, as you might have thought after Melbourne. It's simply that MS is a class above anyone else in F1. That sticks in my throat to say, I'm not an MS fan, but the fact Rubens was behind both a Williams and a BAR says that it's more a driver thing than a massively superior technical package.

[Sean Brian Kirby]

Yeah - watch out for Button. Seriously. If you think he's good - he's even better than that. Good enough, I think, to be perhaps Alonso's key challenger, down the road...

[Pump Daddy J]

For God's sake Tiggers, don't tell 'em the truth! They'll never know what to do with it!
R
PDJ