Is Formula One Courting Audi and Ford?

Formula One's governing body and manufacturers are meeting next month to discuss major technical changes for 2011. The goal is make the sport more relevant to the market, cheaper, and greener. Automotive News is reporting today a that International Automobile Federation (FIA) sent out a “discussion paper on powertrain regulations” to its Formula One Manufacturers' Advisory Committee plus two additional manufacturers.

The committee, which meets next month, includes all the F1 manufacturers: BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda and Toyota and will be joined by non-participants Ford and Audi.

Reading between the lines, the F1 players meeting may not be as important as the invitation of the two non-participants to the meeting. With a push towards relevancy to the public at large, is Formula One courting former champions to return to the fold?

Audi repeatedly has stated that they were previously not interested Formula One, due to the lack of relevancy to current production design. Recent ALMS and Le Mans successes have done wonders for the Audi marketing strategy, by pushing the design envelope and then bringing the development work directly back to the consumer in record time.

If Formula One can transform the series into a less costly and more relevant arena, this may be the bait that Audi or Ford can not refuse.

After all who can resist a Formula One title in the trophy case?

raikkonen - 5/22/2007 3:02:41 PM

+2 Boost

Since F1 is all about reliability and aerodynamics (1st gen TT flying off roads, anyone?), Audi is doomed to fail.

Threepoint1415926 - 5/21/2007 4:08:29 PM

+2 Boost

They'll loose me as a fan if it comes to a "different drivers, different stickers" race. I cant think of anything more boring. GT is where we watch the "relevant to production" stuff. F1 is where we watch the "outrageously futuristic relevance." I think it ought to stay that way.

LexusNumberOne4ever - 5/22/2007 12:09:43 AM

+3 Boost

bimmermike: That's true. Soon F1 and NASCAR will be indistinguishable.

NASCAR = rednecks
F1 = Nascar for Europeans

But look on the +ve side: your Camrys will be involved with F1 teams, the pinnacle of automotive engineering.

LexusNumberOne4ever - 5/22/2007 11:38:13 AM

+1 Boost

It sure is.
Anyway, I really am looking forward to ALMS, now that F1 is dead.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/21/2007 5:42:27 PM

+1 Boost

Audi should join. They have nothing to lose.

Ford, on the other hand...

Need4Speed - 5/21/2007 5:53:22 PM

+3 Boost

I think it should be the other way around. Ford can only benefit from Formula 1 victories and considering they are at the bottom of the heap in everyone's eyes they really don't have anything to loose. For Audi...that's not so, especially with the successes of cars like the R10 and the intro of the R8. They have their image and repertoire, which has been gaining ground, to protect.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/21/2007 10:41:07 PM

+3 Boost

I see your point... but if F1 gains relevancy, it would only further supplant Audi's image. I guess it would benefit Ford, too, but they just shouldn't waste money on other serieses (series plural?) right now. If they ever become profitable, that would be the time to join.

LexusNumberOne4ever - 5/22/2007 12:12:29 AM

+2 Boost

S4: I think its something to do with Cosworth, Ford's subsidiary.

BMWM - 5/21/2007 7:13:01 PM

+3 Boost

I agree with S4cabriofoxone that Ford should probabaly stay out of F1. While they have lots of resources available to them, the cost will ultimately hurt them in a type of racing where the most experienced teams generally do the best. They need to work on holding the company back from the brink of destruction at the moment.

I also agree with Threepoint and Dre that what they are proposing (6 cylinder, basically same cars with different drivers and sponsers) would be the worst thing that the Formula One organizers could possibly do. Formula One is awesome because the cars are so different and stretch the limits of innovation.

It would be great if Audi joined F1 and took the place of one of the struggling teams (Spyker, Torro Rosso) and put their racing knowledge towards a great type of racing like F1. It would be nice to have a new team competing for the top spots besides Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes, and to a slightly lesser extent BMW.

Neverfollow - 5/21/2007 7:16:14 PM

+1 Boost

They may be courting Audi and Ford but both would be wise not to procede at this time.

Ford simply doesn't have the budget to go racing in this arena.

Audi has the money but shouldn't spend it. They are better off to continue with the path they are on and focus on product and even more product. Eventually, I'd say after 2015, maybe they could take another look at it the sport. Not until then though.

LexusNumberOne4ever - 5/22/2007 12:18:18 AM

+2 Boost

Audi or Auto Union?

LexusNumberOne4ever - 5/22/2007 11:35:42 AM

+1 Boost

^^Agreed.

candywhite - 5/22/2007 1:12:16 PM

+1 Boost

i used to follow F1 alot.
WRC is where the real skill is though.

Neverfollow - 5/24/2007 4:01:24 PM

+1 Boost

I stand by my comments