F1 back in business???

[Craig.]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84537

This seemingly unimportant article contains a quote that I think may signal a return to the pre 2005 wars.

and we also need to prepare in a while for 2013 when there will be no rules

Now I am sure that by 2013 something will come in to ruin it, but the thought of returning to the big V10's with 1000bhp, is something I would welcome. Nothing wrong with the v8's, but the noise and the power of the V10's was something else.

[ShaneG_old]

I found this statement to be a little odd:

Mercedes-Benz has all but ruled out increasing its supply of customer engines for 2011 - which means that Red Bull Racing will have no option but to stick with Renault again.

Unless I'm missing something (which is very likely), why would they want the MB engine in the first place?  :-?
MB seems to be constantly out-paced at just about every race by Ferrari & Renault.

  What would a modern "no-holds-barred' F-1 be like?
Could anyone other than the top 4 teams afford to run in it?

I'm still trying to figure out how the rest of the field's parent companies justify the costs of running each GP.
I'm even starting to think they get some kind of kick back from the FIA to ensure that there are more than 8 cars on the track.  :-/

[Craig.]

The Merc engine is considered the most powerful on the grid, its also bulletproof, and the most workable. The Renault engine is 30bhp down on power compaired to the others, and the Ferrari engine doesn't have the reliability that it once did. It's also notoriously difficult to work with as the torque curve is much lower in the band from what I understand. If Renault sorted themselves out and got a more equalised powerplant, I can only imagine how much faster both the factory team and RBR would be.

I would dearly love to go back to the old days of nonstop development, engines screaming, and tyre wars. But common sense will prevail come 2012.

[ShaneG_old]

Wow, I didn't realize MB had such an advantage! 
Red Bull is making that Renault motor look like gold so far.

Is it the driver skill, or the track shape that's holding them back so much then?  :-?

[Craig.]

Who Mercedes?
I think last year took all their resources up, despite being a factory team now, Merc have not put in the sort of money that Ferrari or Renault currently do. So this years car has suffered from the fact that Brawn had to put most of their money into winning last years title. This year Merc have steadily increased budget, and since they will switch towards next years car soon, I would expect to see them much more competitive, Both Nico and Michael have said they are looking forward to next season.
The best selling point for the Merc engine is the Mclaren, look at the performance it has, couple it with the F-duct its usually a good few kph faster in the speed traps. Now they have sorted their cars out it would seem, I would expect to see RBR have a much tougher time from here on out.

[ShaneG_old]

Oh, so it's the car design itself that's messing up Mercedes.

I'm realizing now, that the aerodynamics are probably playing a larger role than I'm giving it credit for.


Future SimV F1 predictions tip? 

I would expect to see RBR have a much tougher time from here on out.

[Craig.]

from a season perspective i'd say yes its definitely a car thing.  from a montreal perspective. Michael drove horribly. Nico did nothing. The team came up with a poor strategy.

I'm not saying rbr wont win races lol i just think they will struggle to match the dominance they had. Canada helped macca because its a low downforce  track which took away some of red bulls advantage. When you consider we still have silverstone, monza, spa, hockenhiem. Valencia and singapore all to come which are as much low to medium downforce tracks. The red bull grip advantage is taken away. I'd expect them to walk it at tracks like japan abu dhabi brazil and hungary for instance