2014 F1 Season.

Don't be silly. That's a pen not a cup of tea!

Don't be silly, that's my rectal thermometer, not a pen...

Has it been put in?

G

All this talk of rectal thermometers puts me in mind of this scene from Carry on Nurse (1959), which will mean nowt to anybody not from the UK. But anyway: But never with a daffodil!

Oooh Morrissey!

Now Marussia has gone burst. We'll probably end the season with 6 cars on track! 

Yeah and all Mercedes...

While I like the ending of the RedBullRenault dominance, I'd like Honda to put up a real fight next season. Could happen.

I (barely) remember those movies. One joke, that was about as funny as a puppy being run over. Awful, awful stuff.

Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it...

That was pretty funny.

And the one about being plastered.

Marc Anthony biting Cleopatra's asp?

'Several other teams' reported to be close to going into administration this morning. Anyone care to speculate? I have a mate works for one of them I'm pretty sure!

Bruce

Lotus?

Lotus has to be in the danger zone

Problem is there are not so many sponsors with that kind of disposable cash. And because of the cost of such deals, the sponsors that are around only want to back winners & I expect those that did not make 2014 podiums & those with 2nd best engines might be scrambling to get the deals needed for 2015. I suspect those with car mntf & engine sponsorships will be OK.  But will it be McLaren-Honda or Honda-McLaren, I guess Ferrari are untouchable, but what about Red Bull (the beverage co) throwing more money at a questionable engine package.       

Ecclestone & his "aspirations" must have an impact, despite his claims that he is driving team costs down, I am far from convinced - but Ecclestone is maybe a bigger problem than team sponsorship.  

Williams are currently in financial difficulty (due to the last few years) but should now be able to find enough to see them through to next year when they will get a lot more cash, even if they go into administration, I'd expect them to recover.

Sauber, Marussia & Force India are a lot less certain

Maybe Red Bull will downscale and pull the plug on Torro Rosso?

Sauber? No manufacturer tie up. Great facilities, making money from access to those and also from selling expertise to Audi sportscar racing but a team in decline I am sure. A weak year for performance too, from mid-table to relegation strugglers.

They had cash flow issues early in the year-never a good sign.

Bruce

It's ever the way of things. Maserati, Cooper, Vanwall, BRM, Matra, Ligier, March, Eagle, ATS, Arrows, Tyrrell, Jordan, Alfa Romeo, Brabham, BMW, Hesketh, Toyota, Toleman and many others. Some vanish, some become others. It's nothing new to suppose that the sport is expiring, too expensive, too elitist. That's kinda the point of F1 I guess.

GP2 & 3 commentator Will Buxton does a blog, the latest is on this subject.

http://willthef1journo.wordpre...hor/willthef1journo/

Basically 164 teams have existed in F1 in the last 64 years.

Jamie, as you say elitist, it must be so, no market in being " 3rd best " form of motor sport?

The expense is also self limiting. If the money isn't available, it won't be expensive. Teams spend what they have. If the top team(s) are too dominant, interest wanes and their sponsors aren't going to want to pony up as much dosh. Same with the value/cost of TV rights and the fees counties/cities pay to hold the events.

That the sport is elitist and expensive is exactly the point, Jamie.

Yes!

Emotional

All very exciting, although I was rather disconcerted to learn from the very nice lady commentator that Lewis's girlfriend was kissing his helmet.

At the Russian GP he dedicated his pole to her, so I guess it's only to be expected.

+1

steve