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Recalling his time at Williams, Pat Symonds insists that the price range cap is “basic” to the way forward for the game.
His profession in F1 nearly ruined by the Crash-gate saga that’s now again within the headlines, Symonds returned to F1 in 2013 as a marketing consultant to Virgin Racing. The truth is, following Nick Wirth’s departure from Virgin, Symonds grew to become de facto technical boss at Virgin nevertheless as a result of his (then) ongoing ban because of the Singapore scandal he remained a marketing consultant, even when in title solely.
In 2013 he joined Williams as Chief Technical Officer, leaving on the finish of 2016 to finally fulfil the identical position at F1.
Talking on the Past the Grid podcast, Symonds says the price range cap – which, paradoxically, was supposedly on the desk when Virgin and a number of other others have been enticed to affix the game – is key to F1’s future.
“We speak loads in regards to the 2022 automobile and the way it’s improved racing and all of the issues we did, however the price range cap would not actually get the medals it deserves as a result of the price range cap is key to the way forward for Components 1,” he stated.
“My final staff was Williams, the place we have been current on a shoestring,” he added. “The truth is, not lengthy after I left Williams, it did not exist on a shoestring. They needed to promote and so they weren’t alone, groups have been actually struggling to outlive.
“Over the course of seven years, we have turned these groups into all being price half a billion {dollars} and that is fairly spectacular. And a big a part of that’s due to the price range cap.”
The Briton claims the cap was additionally integral when it comes to new engine producers becoming a member of the grid, what with Ford and Honda returning and Audi coming into for the primary time.
“It is expertise at a wise price,” he stated. “Now, while you speak in regards to the producers, they’re saying ‘yeah, really now that is fascinating expertise and it is not at a ridiculous value’.
“We’re not having to place a whole bunch and a whole bunch of tens of millions of {dollars} into it, however we will exploit the areas which can be of curiosity to us.”
Very like his reference to drivers being the heroes, “the supermen that we (the game) need to promote”, Symonds sounds extra like a salesman than the Chief Technical Officer for the game. Certainly, like Ross Brawn earlier than him, he seems to have forgotten his racing roots, a poacher turned gamekeeper… and PR man.
And palms up all those that agree with him that the 2022 automobile has improved the racing.
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