Full Throttle

With FIA proposals for the future of F1 such as a limit of eight hours’ use of wind tunnels per day, caps on the number of technical staff teams may employ, budget caps and engine development freezes (not to mention Standardized electronics and extended-life gearboxes) many feel F1’s position as the pinnacle of motorsports is going the way of the Do-Do Bird. Extinct.

The head of the BMW Formula One team, Mario Theissen seems to think along the same lines, in fact he seems to have taken it a bit further and may believe F1 machines will be required to display handicapped License plates in the future.

“My view is that it would turn Formula One into a sport for disabled competitors,” Theissen said.

“First, it would not be equal, because teams come from different baselines,” said Theissen. “Second, it is almost impossible to police. And third, I think the challenge is to spend your resources in the way you get the most performance.

“If a team decide to spend a lot of money on drivers, it should be possible that another spends a lot on a computer, or on a wind tunnel.”

For the record Theissen feels the best way forward is to institute budget caps:

“Cost reduction certainly is desirable. We support that.” He added: “I hope our car will enable our drivers [Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica] to fight for top positions, but it will take another year to really be settled and mature enough to go through an entire season with such an ambition.”

Well said Dr. Theissen, I’m in complete agreement. In fact as you may have noticed I’ve gone a step further and what you see top left is my suggestion for an F1 Handicap License Plate® to be affixed to all on the starting grid in 2008.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have 17 other venues to prepare for.