Are Ferrari really all that important?

Question

I've been following F1 for years now, and in all that time it has been suspected that Ferrari have been given an unfair advantage over the other teams. Its well known that Ferrari seem to have more leverage with the FIA than they should do.

I'm forever hearing people say "No ferrari, no F1", but is that really the case? Surely they are just one team, and no more important than the likes of Honda, who no one seems to care about now.

I think F1 would survive, and thrive without the stroppy ferrari team, what do you think.

Answer 1

It may have been lost a little in recent years, but history is vital to the authenticity and legitimacy of F1. It's just more 200mph adverts if you don't have a link to what happened in the past, and nothing has been around for as long as Ferrari. Even Bernie Ecclestone recognises that fact - he would never have done the $80m finance deal with Ferrari if it wasn't the case. F1 would be just another racing series without the history, and with no Ferrari AND no Honda, that history only goes back to 1966, not 1950...and even then McLaren have changed so much in the last 43 years as to be unrecognisable as, and utterly unrelated to, their original incarnation (unlike Ferrari, Honda, Williams & Renault, the four other "old" teams).



Just to be clear, I find supporting a team a bit odd. I never have done, anyway.



EDIT



Someone else agrees too: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22012009/23/ecclestone-only-team-miss-ferrari.html



EDIT 2



@ragnar "On the comment that McLaren have changed so much they're unrecognisable; the whole sport has changed that much its unrecognisable."

The comparison was with the Ferrari and Williams teams - which have changed remarkably little thanks to a) Enzo Ferrari handling the FIAT buy-in very carefully and b) Frank Williams still being in charge of the team he created; and Honda and Renault - which may have changed the level of professionalism but not their company identity or corporate structure and are still recognisable as the teams which joined the sport. The comparison was not with the sport in general.

McLaren have changed drastically since 1995 (Mercedes original buy-in), let alone their other mutations in 1988 (Gordon Murray revolution), 1983 (TAG buy-in), 1980 (Project Four doing their reverse buy-out of the nearly bankrupt F1 team).

Answer 2

Ferrari are important, but you're right, not so important that they should have so much leverage with the FIA, or that they should be able to hold the FIA to ransom.



That last bit in itself is the kind of conduct that doesn't belong in sport, or any walk of life. It is also the reason why F1 can be split into two main camps Ferrari fans and Ferrari haters.



F1 is being hurt more now, by its uncompetitive nature, than it would ever be by Ferrari pulling out. I know more people who have stopped watching F1 because they see it as too processional, than I know Ferrari fans.



The most important thing in any sport is fairness and a level playing field. You can only achieve that with equality among the teams.



No Ferrari, no F1? BS! How many people would watch F1 if there were just two red cars going around a track, followed by two Torro Rosso's, compared to how many would still watch it if Ferrari left?



If you would stop watching F1, because Ferrari left, then you're not an F1 fan.



On the comment that McLaren have changed so much they're unrecognisable; the whole sport has changed that much its unrecognisable.

Answer 3

Ferrari are considerably more important then Honda. Honda weren't even an F1 team for 5 years before pulling the plug, and teams come and go all the time.



I do feel that people overstate the importance of Ferrari, however. Despite being arguably the most important team, F1 would continue just fine without them, although it'd probably lose a lot of Italian fans!

Answer 4

Yes, Ferrari really are that important, because of what they have given to the sport not only F1 but sports cars as well. It is a fact that F1 would have folded several times in the past when tough times hit, if it hadn't been for their unwavering support even when they weren't winning. They are the only pure team in terms of manufacturing their own chassis, engine and drive train. I have no wish to belittle other teams efforts but history speaks for itself. It will be a sad day indeed if they ever pull the plug.

Answer 5

F1 would suffer a great deal if Ferrari were to leave. And they have come close.

2003 Ferrari threatened to leave F1 and would therefore take many supporters and other major deals with them. Therefore the FIA as Bernie has said 'Bought Ferrari's loyalty'. Ferrari are given $80million a season not matter where they finish and regardless if they win anything or not. So Ferrari get sponsorship money, prize money and all the other regular payments PLUS this $80million.

It because Ferrari have virtually been with F1 since the start and it has become linked with F1. Think F1, think Ferrari. And a lot of the technology that goes into the road production cars come from the technology of the Formula One team.

While Mclaren is at equal importance to the F1 sport and others such as BMW, Renault and Toyota I don't think that it would be as bad a loss as if Ferrari left. Just look at the withdrawal of Honda. The sport hasn't exactly fallen apart. Same when Super Aguri (remember them...) left last April.

Answer 6

I’m not a fan of any team in F1, i’m simply just neutral. But truth is Scuderia Ferrari is the “poster” team of F1... Ferrari cars are well known, non-F1 fans would have briefly heard about Ferrari’s dominance in the news media, and the F1 team is very popular among F1 fans.



It doesn’t matter how much you hate Scuderia Ferrari, they partly make what F1 is.

Answer 7

Hmmm, F1 would probably suffer up to a point without them. mind you, if you went back to 1978 and asked the same question but replaced Ferrari with Lotus, then arguably the best team, I wonder what the response would be. Though saying that Lotus had many years of steady decline and at the end, it was probably best to shut the team down, a team at the top pulling out would be harder now as apart form Mclaren and Williams (to an extent Renault) most of the teams are quite young and not such a key.

Answer 8

F1 without Ferrari is like MLB without NY yankees

Answer 9

vec p said it best...MLB w/o the Yankees

.

Ferrari is an integral part of F1....



their poster boy, somebody also said....



if any of you have done any racing, even just basic karting, there is always a team that everybody wants to hate.. everybody wants to beat...In our track and series.... its this british team ( we are in asia ) with brand new karts every season...rebuilt engine every race...with their own pit area separate from everybody else...nobody likes them , but in all honesty, everybody wants to drive for them.... in F1 , Ferrari is that team.





PS i beat that team last year , won the masters cup for 2008 !

Answer 10

Hell yeah!



Ferrari is the only the team that has always been in formula 1 !



Ferrari is a legend in F1 !



And F1 needs Ferrari !



So never say that Ferrari isn't important.



Why do you think every driver except that cocky hamilton kid wants to drive for Ferrari one day ? Ferrari is the God of F1 !



So go Ferrari and well go Toro Rosso !

Answer 11

I like McLaren but have to admit that Ferrari are great car makers and we need them.

Answer 12

Ferrari are important but will not ruin F1 if they leave IMHO.

Answer 13

Oh no! no ferrari, no Micheal sh1tmaker poncing around the pits

Answer 14

formula one without ferrari simply is like world cup without brazil ,can u imagine that

Answer 15

a red key is the master key, its needed to re program a new key to work the immobiliser beware if you buy a car that should have a red key but hasn't it can be very expensive to get a spare key without it... late model ford escort lose the red key and it costs £350 plus to get a new key.

Answer 16

yes good comment. I think the other teams should break away and do away with eccleston and co.Motor racing would still have a great following even without the red cheats