HRT supports cutting grid to 10 teams

HRT boss Colin Kolles supports Bernie Ecclestone's view that there should only be 10 teams in Formula One rather than 12.

Last year HRT, Lotus and Virgin joined the grid, but by mid-season Ecclestone was making them feel far from welcome.

"All we ever want is 10 teams," Ecclestone said. "Lotus is a good name, I wouldn't want to lose them. But in general this year has been a bit of a nuisance because it has cost money to keep these teams in."

Currently the top 10 teams split a pot of prize money made up from half of the sport's TV and sponsorship revenues, with a sliding scale so that the higher a team finishes the more it receives. The two teams finishing 11th - as HRT did last year - and 12th receive nothing from this prize fund.

But despite Ecclestone's thinly veiled attack on HRT, Kolles agrees that F1 would be better off losing a couple of outfits.

"I think that the sport worked very well with 10 teams," Kolles told reporters at the launch of HRT's new car. "If 10 teams are running it is much safer for the teams because obviously the money distribution is different - if there are 12 teams that distribution is different to 10 teams. This is the major factor from our point of view. If we were one of those 10 teams it would give us greater security and this is the primary factor for this, and it's healthier for the sport.

When asked if he thought HRT would feature in the top 10, Kolles said: "I think so yes. I think that others are more desperate than we are to be honest with you."

This is interesting...

Why did they try to bring in 4 new teams? It was obviously going to be a struggle especially with all the cost cutting etc.

And Kolles supporting this idea?? Does he see HRT being inside the top 20 this year? They might beat Virgin who seem poor. But that's all...

so why dont they just split the cash between the 12 teams instead of the top 10. That seems the simple solution to me. But then again its Bernie we are dealing with. aka lets have fake rain on the track with a sprinkler system

Y I Man wrote:so why dont they just split the cash between the 12 teams instead of the top 10. That seems the simple solution to me. But then again its Bernie we are dealing with. aka lets have fake rain on the track with a sprinkler system

But why should you get something for finishing last?

Consolation prize?
In all seriousness though, there is money in the sport and this would help the lower teams. Otherwise why participate as they know they are off the pace and will lose out financially. So why bother competing?

I think the cash should be spread between all teams taking part in F1.

You get no prizes for finishing last...

But if they want the new teams to progress then right now they should give them money, but later on when they are established, whoever finishes last really shouldn't...