Rumors maintain a constant presence in Formula 1. Everything from rules and regulations to which drivers go where, speculation is everywhere. As Formula 1 enters a new era, with new cars, powertrains, and the shuffling about of drivers, the rumor mill is churning more abundantly than ever.
One of the most speculated upon rumors is it that in 2015 Formula 1 will be going to a new format, one that will change the look of the Formula 1 grid for the foreseeable future. It has been rumored that Formula 1 will go to eight teams with three drivers each, referred to as “Eight-3”. This would mean that three of the current teams would cease to exist with the most likely candidates rumored to be Sauber and Caterham. Neither Sauber nor Caterham have scored a single point yet this season and Sauber is being crushed by the weight of financial woes. They are not the only ones, however. Lotus as well is struggling financially, finding itself forced to cut back on its labor force by 30%.
So what would this shake up in the grid mean for team orders? Well it could mean a great deal. Currently, with only two drivers, team orders are a problem. The latest ordeal between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton is a perfect example, as was the not too distant memory of Sebastian Vettel ignoring team orders regarding Mark Webber. Ferrari made a point this year, upon hiring Kimi Raikkonen to be Fernando Alonso’s teammate that there would be no team orders and that both drivers were equal. Clearly the topic is on the forefront of team, and fan, minds at each and every race.
Teams would have to restructure their strategy and their drivers. Team orders would shift from being a potential to being a necessity in order to maintain organization and control of the team. The idea that there is an optimum number that a team or organization performs at could be applied in this situation. Should teams go from two cars to three, they will be stretched thinner so regardless of there being less competition the team itself is not as efficient. Team orders would then become more and more necessary to protect the investment of the cars and to create an environment that the team may be successful in. The individual driver would become less important than the team as a whole and some driver is going to have to take it on the chin for the good of the team.
Moreover, if the rumored switch in formats takes place, strategy will become more important than ever. Teams will need drivers to tow the line and do what they are told in order to help their fellow teammates out for the good of the team as a whole. Drivers such as Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa have made such sacrifices occasionally in the past and were, for the most part, expected to do so. Now however, instead of an exception being made and a driver swallowing his own disappointment to fall into step with their teammate for the betterment of the team, they would be expected to do what the team principal says regardless. This type of order giving and control will destroy F1 where the whole point is to race, to court innovation and technology, and to push the envelope as to what is possible and what we can imagine, not to follow orders like an good, obedient yard dog.
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