Concerns over manufacturer power2007 arguments aside, by the 2008 season a Formula One team will be able to simply purchase a chassis from another team and compete.
Currently each team must build its own chassis to be able to compete and while the rule changes will
certainly result in a reduction in costs, it could result in six teams with four cars each according to BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to sell chassis to a second team,” Theissen said on the team’s official web site. “The original idea was to help smaller teams to become competitive in F1. That is a good approach and it would help them if they can buy a chassis instead of having to employ 300 people to design and build it.”
“Today we have independent teams who want to be competitive, who see themselves as one of 12 teams on the grid, who fight for their own success. With the sale of chassis, I think we will very soon have six-plus-six team – or six teams with four cars each.”
Undoubtedly a manufacturer supplying an independent team with its technology would try to ensure some degree of on-track co-operation. “Having just four or five big players controlling the grid in our view would not be F1 anymore.”
