Have single-car teams been outlawed?

[James1978]

I've tried to Google this to no avail; has there ever been a rule put in place where a team HAS to run 2 cars? I know third cars were banned around the mid 80s but the main question is, was anything ever put in place that banned single-car teams? As far as I know the last time teams ran a single car under normal circumstances (i.e. exceptions since were drivers killed or injured) were Fondmental and Coloni in 1991 but both extended to 2 cars for 1992. So I'm wondering if it was about then as I think both teams would have preferred to have stayed with just the one car!

[mario]

I've tried to Google this to no avail; has there ever been a rule put in place where a team HAS to run 2 cars? I know third cars were banned around the mid 80s but the main question is, was anything ever put in place that banned single-car teams? As far as I know the last time teams ran a single car under normal circumstances (i.e. exceptions since were drivers killed or injured) were Fondmental and Coloni in 1991 but both extended to 2 cars for 1992. So I'm wondering if it was about then as I think both teams would have preferred to have stayed with just the one car!

Part of the problem is that it's hard to find copies of the sporting regulations from the early 1990s for Formula 1, but from what I've seen, the 1994 and 1997 versions of the sporting regulations seemed to be imposing an upper limit of two drivers.

The sporting regulations from 1999 seem to be the first time that the clauses on entries seems to specify two cars per team, as Clause 47 reads:

47) No more than 24 cars will be admitted to the Championship, two being entered by each competitor.

[James1978]

Thanks Mario

[Har1MAS1415]

I've tried to Google this to no avail; has there ever been a rule put in place where a team HAS to run 2 cars? I know third cars were banned around the mid 80s but the main question is, was anything ever put in place that banned single-car teams? As far as I know the last time teams ran a single car under normal circumstances (i.e. exceptions since were drivers killed or injured) were Fondmental and Coloni in 1991 but both extended to 2 cars for 1992. So I'm wondering if it was about then as I think both teams would have preferred to have stayed with just the one car!

Had to have been about 1986 or 1987 for the ban on three cars as there was the Middlebridge Benetton that was banned in 1987.

[James1978]

I couldn't help but think the 1996 numbering system wouldn't have been possible with 1 car teams either. But I suppose others could have just been moved up.

[mario]

I've tried to Google this to no avail; has there ever been a rule put in place where a team HAS to run 2 cars? I know third cars were banned around the mid 80s but the main question is, was anything ever put in place that banned single-car teams? As far as I know the last time teams ran a single car under normal circumstances (i.e. exceptions since were drivers killed or injured) were Fondmental and Coloni in 1991 but both extended to 2 cars for 1992. So I'm wondering if it was about then as I think both teams would have preferred to have stayed with just the one car!

Had to have been about 1986 or 1987 for the ban on three cars as there was the Middlebridge Benetton that was banned in 1987.

The last time that a team was allowed to run three cars was in 1985, when Renault were allowed to use a third car at the 1985 German Grand Prix. There was an agreement between Renault, the FIA and the other teams that Renault could use that third car on a one off basis as that car was used as a test bed for live transmissions of camera footage from the cars to the TV feed and, since it was being used to test that technology, it was ineligible to score points.

I may be corrected on this point, but I think that the last time that a team might have entered three cars where, in theory, all three cars would have been eligible for points would be Tyrrell in 1980. The 1980 Canadian Grand Prix was the last time that all three cars that could have scored points qualified for the race and took the start; meanwhile, the 1980 US Grand Prix was the last time that three cars were entered with the hope of scoring points, although Mike Thackwell did not qualify for the race.

[Har1MAS1415]

I've tried to Google this to no avail; has there ever been a rule put in place where a team HAS to run 2 cars? I know third cars were banned around the mid 80s but the main question is, was anything ever put in place that banned single-car teams? As far as I know the last time teams ran a single car under normal circumstances (i.e. exceptions since were drivers killed or injured) were Fondmental and Coloni in 1991 but both extended to 2 cars for 1992. So I'm wondering if it was about then as I think both teams would have preferred to have stayed with just the one car!

Had to have been about 1986 or 1987 for the ban on three cars as there was the Middlebridge Benetton that was banned in 1987.

The last time that a team was allowed to run three cars was in 1985, when Renault were allowed to use a third car at the 1985 German Grand Prix. There was an agreement between Renault, the FIA and the other teams that Renault could use that third car on a one off basis as that car was used as a test bed for live transmissions of camera footage from the cars to the TV feed and, since it was being used to test that technology, it was ineligible to score points.

I may be corrected on this point, but I think that the last time that a team might have entered three cars where, in theory, all three cars would have been eligible for points would be Tyrrell in 1980. The 1980 Canadian Grand Prix was the last time that all three cars that could have scored points qualified for the race and took the start; meanwhile, the 1980 US Grand Prix was the last time that three cars were entered with the hope of scoring points, although Mike Thackwell did not qualify for the race.

I know. That's why I said 1986 at the earliest.

We also had Emilio de Villota's 3rd March in 1982.

Jonathan Palmer in a 3rd Williams at Brands Hatch in 1983.

[mario]

I know. That's why I said 1986 at the earliest.

We also had Emilio de Villota's 3rd March in 1982.

Jonathan Palmer in a 3rd Williams at Brands Hatch in 1983.

In the case of de Villota, there is an argument that his entry was technically through his sponsors as a privateer entry - you do have a fair point with Palmer though.

[Har1MAS1415]

I know. That's why I said 1986 at the earliest.

We also had Emilio de Villota's 3rd March in 1982.

Jonathan Palmer in a 3rd Williams at Brands Hatch in 1983.

In the case of de Villota, there is an argument that his entry was technically through his sponsors as a privateer entry - you do have a fair point with Palmer though.

Also the late Philippe Streiff in 1984, also with Renault, I knew about them running Francois Hesnault as a guest entry in 1985.

De Villota is also an interesting case because he tried to enter a 3rd Williams in the 1981 Spanish GP.

Also in 1983, Ferrari wanted to run a 3rd car for Didier Pironi as long as he was fit enough.
https://f1since81.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/ferrari-3/

[Nessafox]

From what i could read between the lines of the Andrea Moda documentary, 2 cars were obligated from 1992 on. But i also have no ideas about official statements.

[James1978]

From what i could read between the lines of the Andrea Moda documentary, 2 cars were obligated from 1992 on. But i also have no ideas about official statements.

I did have a feeling because I don't think Andrea Moda ever wanted to have to run Perry McCarthy's car!

[Har1MAS1415]

From what i could read between the lines of the Andrea Moda documentary, 2 cars were obligated from 1992 on. But i also have no ideas about official statements.

I did have a feeling because I don't think Andrea Moda ever wanted to have to run Perry McCarthy's car!

Had he been allowed to bring back Enrico Bertaggia, it might have been a different story, MIGHT.....

[Har1MAS1415]

I've tried to Google this to no avail; has there ever been a rule put in place where a team HAS to run 2 cars? I know third cars were banned around the mid 80s but the main question is, was anything ever put in place that banned single-car teams? As far as I know the last time teams ran a single car under normal circumstances (i.e. exceptions since were drivers killed or injured) were Fondmental and Coloni in 1991 but both extended to 2 cars for 1992. So I'm wondering if it was about then as I think both teams would have preferred to have stayed with just the one car!

Had to have been about 1986 or 1987 for the ban on three cars as there was the Middlebridge Benetton that was banned in 1987.

The last time that a team was allowed to run three cars was in 1985, when Renault were allowed to use a third car at the 1985 German Grand Prix. There was an agreement between Renault, the FIA and the other teams that Renault could use that third car on a one off basis as that car was used as a test bed for live transmissions of camera footage from the cars to the TV feed and, since it was being used to test that technology, it was ineligible to score points.

I may be corrected on this point, but I think that the last time that a team might have entered three cars where, in theory, all three cars would have been eligible for points would be Tyrrell in 1980. The 1980 Canadian Grand Prix was the last time that all three cars that could have scored points qualified for the race and took the start; meanwhile, the 1980 US Grand Prix was the last time that three cars were entered with the hope of scoring points, although Mike Thackwell did not qualify for the race.

McLaren stated their intention to run a 3rd car in 1993 if needs must, just so they could give Mika Hakkinen a chance without sacking Michael Andretti.
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the- ... nightmare/

[tBone]

From what i could read between the lines of the Andrea Moda documentary, 2 cars were obligated from 1992 on. But i also have no ideas about official statements.

This is not much more than a guess, but could it have been established in the Concorde Agreement? A new version was enforced in 1992.

[Har1MAS1415]

From what i could read between the lines of the Andrea Moda documentary, 2 cars were obligated from 1992 on. But i also have no ideas about official statements.

This is not much more than a guess, but could it have been established in the Concorde Agreement? A new version was enforced in 1992.

That is possible.

[Bleu]

Had to have been about 1986 or 1987 for the ban on three cars as there was the Middlebridge Benetton that was banned in 1987.

The last time that a team was allowed to run three cars was in 1985, when Renault were allowed to use a third car at the 1985 German Grand Prix. There was an agreement between Renault, the FIA and the other teams that Renault could use that third car on a one off basis as that car was used as a test bed for live transmissions of camera footage from the cars to the TV feed and, since it was being used to test that technology, it was ineligible to score points.

I may be corrected on this point, but I think that the last time that a team might have entered three cars where, in theory, all three cars would have been eligible for points would be Tyrrell in 1980. The 1980 Canadian Grand Prix was the last time that all three cars that could have scored points qualified for the race and took the start; meanwhile, the 1980 US Grand Prix was the last time that three cars were entered with the hope of scoring points, although Mike Thackwell did not qualify for the race.

McLaren stated their intention to run a 3rd car in 1993 if needs must, just so they could give Mika Hakkinen a chance without sacking Michael Andretti.
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the- ... nightmare/

I recall hearing this talk. Around Belgium GP it started to be clear that Scuderia Italia would not be racing in Japan and Australia so the grid would be down to 24 cars while 26 could start, so extra cars would be filling the empty spots.

If that had happened I wonder if we could have seen Yannick Dalmas / Australia 1987 situation again where points were not awarded as the car had not been entered to the series.

[Har1MAS1415]

The last time that a team was allowed to run three cars was in 1985, when Renault were allowed to use a third car at the 1985 German Grand Prix. There was an agreement between Renault, the FIA and the other teams that Renault could use that third car on a one off basis as that car was used as a test bed for live transmissions of camera footage from the cars to the TV feed and, since it was being used to test that technology, it was ineligible to score points.

I may be corrected on this point, but I think that the last time that a team might have entered three cars where, in theory, all three cars would have been eligible for points would be Tyrrell in 1980. The 1980 Canadian Grand Prix was the last time that all three cars that could have scored points qualified for the race and took the start; meanwhile, the 1980 US Grand Prix was the last time that three cars were entered with the hope of scoring points, although Mike Thackwell did not qualify for the race.

McLaren stated their intention to run a 3rd car in 1993 if needs must, just so they could give Mika Hakkinen a chance without sacking Michael Andretti.
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the- ... nightmare/

I recall hearing this talk. Around Belgium GP it started to be clear that Scuderia Italia would not be racing in Japan and Australia so the grid would be down to 24 cars while 26 could start, so extra cars would be filling the empty spots.

If that had happened I wonder if we could have seen Yannick Dalmas / Australia 1987 situation again where points were not awarded as the car had not been entered to the series.

... and Jo Gartner/Gerhard Berger at Monza in 1984.

[Yannick]

In IndyCar, single-car teams have been series regulars even in this decade. However, teams realize how much they can benefit from larger amounts of data available through multiple cars. So single-car teams tend to partner with multiple car teams. Like Meyer Shank Racing did when they ran only the #60 for Jack Harvey earlier in the decade.
I think the most recent wins by single-car teams in IndyCar came from Graham Rahal for RLL (now at 3 cars) in 2015, and from Simon Pagenaud for Sam Schmidt's team (now at 3 cars under the McLaren name) not much later.

[Har1MAS1415]

Zakspeed in 1986 and Osella in 1987 were interesting cases.