From GMM
Irishman Eddie Irvine, the 1999 formula one runner-up with Ferrari, believes the global financial crisis will be good for the sport.
"It will level the playing field off a little bit. Money hasn't made the show any better, it has made it worse," the retired former Ferrari and Jaguar driver, 42, told Sky News.
He reasons that if the big-spending manufacturers are forced to throttle back, the on-track competition will therefore close up because the smaller teams become more competitive.
"The sponsorship deals are subsidised by car manufacturers. You're going to see the spend come back and it has to come back because it has been madness for years," the Ulsterman said.
Irvine said he is an admirer of championship leader and countryman Lewis Hamilton, but recalls how just a year ago the Briton threw away a big title lead.
"It was like he took his brain out and said 'let's have an accident'. This year will be different.
"Lewis will have learned from what happened, but you have to remember he was only 21 then and you remember what you were like at 21!" Irvine added.
photo:WRI2
Irishman Eddie Irvine, the 1999 formula one runner-up with Ferrari, believes the global financial crisis will be good for the sport.
"It will level the playing field off a little bit. Money hasn't made the show any better, it has made it worse," the retired former Ferrari and Jaguar driver, 42, told Sky News.
He reasons that if the big-spending manufacturers are forced to throttle back, the on-track competition will therefore close up because the smaller teams become more competitive.
"The sponsorship deals are subsidised by car manufacturers. You're going to see the spend come back and it has to come back because it has been madness for years," the Ulsterman said.
Irvine said he is an admirer of championship leader and countryman Lewis Hamilton, but recalls how just a year ago the Briton threw away a big title lead.
"It was like he took his brain out and said 'let's have an accident'. This year will be different.
"Lewis will have learned from what happened, but you have to remember he was only 21 then and you remember what you were like at 21!" Irvine added.
photo:WRI2