fiat still in f1

[4mula1]

how can ferrari stay in f1, toyota bmw and honda are more well known than fiat and there out of f1. and its been years since fiat sold cars in u.s.a. & canada (?) also, i think at least 3 ferraris were in some races. ive heard talk of 3 cars on the grid for next year.

[Saint Devote]

how can ferrari stay in f1, toyota bmw and honda are more well known than fiat and there out of f1. and its been years since fiat sold cars in u.s.a. & canada (?) also, i think at least 3 ferraris were in some races. ive heard talk of 3 cars on the grid for next year.

FIAT, as opposed to all the failed manufacturers you mention did not become involved with the Ferrari racing team when they took over.

They understood that a racing team is a totally different entity and has to be managed differently. To their credit. Renault understood that as well.

But Renault have a dilemma unless they hire David Richards.....

It has always been amazing that the failed auto manufacturers - Toyota, Honda and BMW did not just let the teams be as they were. Honda did at first with Richards then again with Brawn before they decided to leave.

[Rollo]

how can ferrari stay in f1, toyota bmw and honda are more well known than fiat and there out of f1. and its been years since fiat sold cars in u.s.a. & canada (?) also, i think at least 3 ferraris were in some races. ive heard talk of 3 cars on the grid for next year.

Because unlike Toyota, BMW, or Honda, Ferrari is not a car manufacturer that races cars, but a racing team that happens to sell road cars. Ferrari does not exist primarily to sell cars, but to go motor racing.

Your question is like asking "Why do Manchester United remain playing football?" or "How can the English cricket team continue to keep on playing cricket?".

How can Ferrari stay in F1? Because it exists to race.

[Sonic]

It also helps that unlike the others you mentioned, Ferrari actually win!

toyota bmw and honda are more well known than fiat

That depends on where you live.

[Dave B]

Seeing Toyota, BMW and Honda in one sentence got me thinking.

Between them, how many races did they enter as manufacturers (in the modern era, obviously), and how much money did they throw at F1?

And for what? No wins for Toyota, one for BMW (arguably not truly on merit as Hamilton took out Raikkonen in the pitlane leaving the way clear for Kubica), and one for Honda (again some round these parts will argue that it wasn't really earned).

What a bloody waste.

[V12]

Seeing Toyota, BMW and Honda in one sentence got me thinking.

Between them, how many races did they enter as manufacturers (in the modern era, obviously), and how much money did they throw at F1?

And for what? No wins for Toyota, one for BMW (arguably not truly on merit as Hamilton took out Raikkonen in the pitlane leaving the way clear for Kubica), and one for Honda (again some round these parts will argue that it wasn't really earned).

What a bloody waste.

And compare that with how many wins between them BMW and Honda had as engine suppliers...

[Sonic]

And compare that with how many wins between them BMW and Honda had as engine suppliers...

Indeed. It just proves what we all know already; the best way to succeed in F1 as a manufacturer is to pair up with a strong racing team.

[V12]

Indeed. I decided to look it up. 72 wins for Honda, 20 for BMW in total. Take away Surtees, Button and Kubica's wins that 89 versus 3. And I'm sure if you worked it out on a per-race entry basis (considering they were engine suppliers for longer than they were team owners), that first number would still be significantly greater.

[anthonyvop]

and its been years since fiat sold cars in u.s.a. & canada

FIAT returns to the US market in 2011. Alfa in 2012.