Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-19, leads Alexander Albon, Toro Rosso STR14
Prime
Analysis

The MotoGP model that proves F1 B-teams' worth

F1's relationship with customer cars has been contradictory through history, and the development of the current form of B-teams has led to scorn inside and outside the paddock. But a glance at MotoGP shows how they can key to F1's future

Motorsport.com's Prime content

The best content from Motorsport.com Prime, our subscription service. Subscribe here to get access to all the features.

The jury was always out on customer cars in Formula 1. Though a huge part of the category's formative years, in which private entrants frequently bought up machinery from the likes of Lotus and March, 21st-century variants were looked upon with greater disdain.

Some weren't particularly happy that the Super Aguri team could get away with buying up previous-spec Hondas, or that Toro Rosso could use the same car as sister squad Red Bull. The resulting opposition nipped a potential Prodrive entry in the bud, the title-winning touring car and rallying company having agreed a deal with McLaren to buy its cars for 2008.

Previous article Binotto admits it was "difficult" to give Leclerc orders
Next article The one part of F1 that really did get worse

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia