Richards is In! The FIA, which runs Formula 1 - well, at least for the time being - has confirmed the 12 teams that it will include in its
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| David Richards (right), has a wealth of F1 team management experience, shown here with Jacques Villeneuve (left) and Olivier Panis (in car) at start of 2004 season. (Photo: BAR Honda F1) |
Formula 1 World Championship in 2008. Twelve teams? Which is the new team? Ladies and Gentlemen, once again meet David Richards. The groans and cell phones you hear ringing mostly belong to Honda, not to mention ex-BAR driver Jacques Villeneuve. The 2008 teams, in alphabetical order, are as follows: BMW Sauber F1 Team, Honda Racing F1 Team, MF1 Racing, Prodrive, Red Bull Racing, Mild Seven Renault F1 Team, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, Super Aguri F1 Team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Panasonic Toyota Racing, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Williams F1 Team. Prodrive, from the list above is Mr. Richards. The FIA
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| Richards (left) is respected in F1 circles as a tough contender. (Photo: BAR Honda F1) |
had its say about Richard's outfit, Prodrive. In a press statement FIA President Max Mosley stated that Prodrive had been chosen because it had "the best combination of financial backing, technical capability and motor sport experience and is well known to the FIA through its participation in the World Rally Championship. Also, Prodrive's chief executive, David Richards, has experience as a Formula 1 team principal." Now, about that experience, Richards ran Benetton in 1998, and then managed BAR from 2002 to 2004. The effects of his presence at BAR are now just finally being felt. Many feel Richards is the 'man' when it comes to building competitive motor racing cars. "We have won World Rally Championships, British Touring Car titles and the GT1 class at Le Mans," Richards said. "And have been saying for some time that we would also like to be in Formula 1 with our own Prodrive team. We are now one step closer." While that is true, and has been well known
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| Richard's Prodrive, which currently competes in the WRC with Subaru,also developed the Aston Martin DBR9 for competition in sports carracing. (Photo: Aston Martin) |
for some time, it might well be a case of the FIA rubbing the noses of the existing teams in the mud. You see, many of the manufacturers spend big, okay, huge dollars building a competitive team. Some, well, Toyota, seem to think that if you throw enough money at it, it will eventually pay off. That theory is yet to be proven. What is a proven concept for winning in F1 is a one man show. One man, making key decisions in all areas is the way to go. Look at Williams, with Sir Frank Williams at the helm, as an example. History is full of 'leading men' if you will. Manufacturers mostly manage by committee, and thus compromise is inevitable,
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| Richards has long been planning a Subaru-powered supercar under the Prodrive banner. (Photo: Prodrive) |
and therein lies the problem. By the FIA letting Richards in, they are inviting a proven concept - a one man show. Richards, as you may well remember was dumped rather rudely by BAR, and now he's back, and, with little doubt the mood at Honda is probably somber. Look at what's at stake, and then look at the possibilities. Richards has two years to build a team and a car. He will do it, and more likely than not, his 'lump' will be fast, right out of the box.