July 2014 | Page 93

the fink Letters to the Editor Once again we highlight some of the comments our website is getting. Dawn Hare on F1 - A corporate political way forward (Frank Beeton) So we have currently only Renault who do not have a F1 works team, and next year Honda. There has always been engines and other parts (even cars) designed/made by F1 teams and sold to other lower teams, but and it’s a big BUT, the top teams always seem to find a neutral supplier to team up with, as McLaren have done with Honda. Since Honda have said they will only supply McLaren with engines, next year Renault could be in a position to sell more to the top end teams (if they don’t favour Red Bull) and subject to contracts already in place of course...or a new engine supplier. Graham Arthur on F1 - A corporate political way forward sure that team was going to be competitive in terms of vehicle design and drivers. Unfortunately all the top teams are already spoken for in the article and mid-ranking teams would need significant investment and several seasons to start moving up the ladder. Interesting article with a forecast for the teams and power units of the future. Not sure if BMW would be in a rush to re-enter F1. They make superb engines for their road cars but only managed to join the midVW would have exactly the same issues but ranking teams when they were last in F1. haven’t any F1 experience to fall back on. I think they would need to find the right Both brands would need very deep pockets team to partner with and be absolutely to provide the funding. Chris Randall on FCA rethinks Alfa Romeo Still tricky times ahead I fear. And given that the whole group made fewer cars last year than Nissan’s Sunderland plant alone, boosting numbers won’t be easy. Still, most of us have our fingers crossed. | words in action 91 july 2014 I have a feeling Honda will want to show they have a good engine before any further sales to F1 teams. Also if engine manufacturers can prove some good development works within F1 to take to the production line, then this should encourage other engine suppliers, don’t you think? (but it make take time) Good article! Iain Peter W. Robertson on FCA rethinks Alfa Romeo I kind of agree but I still feel that resurrecting the brand to its former glory, which the 156 model did quite fruitfully somewhat over a decade ago, would only be worthwhile, if the worst elements of Alfa-ness were eradicated. What would be the point of a tearful return, if it is tinged with regret for yet another breakdown, or handling foibles that become intolerable. Truth is, we have far too much “living in the past” with BMW, VW, Nissan, Chrysler and Fiat doing their bits in recent years. As a child of the “Dan Dare” era, I am still awaiting my hover car...