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Three-car teams unlikely - Whitmarsh

ESPNF1 Staff
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FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh insists three-car teams are unlikely © Sutton Images
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F1 is unlikely to consider three-car team entries while the grid is already healthily subscribed, according to the Formula One Teams' Association [FOTA] chairman Martin Whitmarsh.

Recently Ferrari's has signalled that it would like to run a third car, in order to offer a driver like Valentino Rossi a chance in F1. Rossi, however, broke his leg in a MotoGP crash last Saturday, and now Whitmarsh has played down the chances of F1 opening up to three-car teams.

"It hasn't been discussed recently," he told the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Phone-In on Tuesday. "A third car is really an idea if you get a reduced number of teams. FOTA is working hard to find ways in which we can encourage and allow all of the teams that are currently members to develop and flourish. If you introduce a third car - McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes would all be probably happy to - I think in fairness to the smaller teams it would only disadvantage them further. I think that in the event that the number of teams in the sport dropped below ten, and at the moment we are hoping it is 13 next year, then it would be a fantastic opportunity."

In the past there have been concerns that three car teams would mean F1 becomes too dependent on the manufacturers staying in the sport, as if two pulled out, six cars would disappear from the grid. However, Whitmarsh said there would be other advantages to the idea that would boost Formula One's appeal.

"I think if we then attached the third car to some regulations that encouraged some of these very competent but non-F1 experts to participate I think it would create some interesting spectacle and public interest. Apart from the greats that we already have in our sport it would be fantastic for Sebastien Loeb, Valentino Rossi, Jimmie Johnson or whoever to be participating in Formula 1. I think it would be natural for them to consider the opportunity and it would be fantastic for F1. I've got no doubt that all of those guys have got incredible talent and they would, if they turned their mind to it and gave themselves enough focus and time, be very competitive F1 drivers."

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