Stuck: “Manufacturers should only supply the engines”

According to former driver Hans-Joachim Stuck, car manufacturers should exit F1 and limit their participation to the supply of engines. The German, who now works as a Volkswagen representative, advised brands such as BMW and Mercedes to stop spending money on chassis design.

The 58-year-old recognizes the manufacturers' past successes but believes the necessary investment of hundreds of thousands of euros means the risk of failure is too high.

McLaren, whose main partner is Mercedes, and BMW are fifth and eighth respectively in the 2009 constructors' championship, while Renault is in seventh position.

“No one would spend 300 million in a year and then not find themselves on the podium, but that's how it happens,” Stuck told the German newspaper Bild. “I can't understand why BMW and Mercedes continue to design cars. They should stick to what they know how to do: design and sell engines.”

Stuck believes Mercedes should make its approach with Brawn the model for car manufacturers' involvement in F1.

“Their team, McLaren, is very far behind and costs Mercedes a lot of money. At the same time Norbert Haug sells his engines to Brawn for 10 million euros. They will win the world championship and make money the same way!” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper Marca said this week that Flavio Briatore could buy Renault and continue to use French engines from 2010 onwards.

Andre' Cotta