Beginning in the 1970's, Bernie Ecclestone rearranged the management of Formula One's commercial rights; he is widely credited with transforming the sport into the billion-dollar business it is today.
FISA imposed a ban on ground effect aerodynamics in 1983.
By 1986, a BMW turbocharged engine achieved an estimated over 1,300 bhp in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.
The development of electronic driver aids began in the 1980's. By 1987, this system had been perfected and was driven to victory by Ayrton Senna in the Monaco Grand Prix.
On the track, the McLaren and Williams teams dominated the 1980's and 1990's. Powered by Porsche, Honda and Mercedes-Benz, McLaren won sixteen championships ( seven constructors', nine drivers') in that period.
Since the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, the FIA has used safety as a reason to impose rule changes. This so called "narrow track" era .. cars with smaller rear tires, a narrower track overall an the introduction of grooved tires
Drivers from McLaren, Williams, Renault (formerly Benetton) and Ferrari, dubbed the "big Four", have won every drivers World Championship from 1984 to 2008 and the constructors won from 1979 to 2008.
Financial troubles forced several teams to withdraw. Since 1990, twenty-eight teams have pulled out of formula One. This has propted former Jordan owner Eddie Jordan to say the days of competitive privateers are over.
No comments:
Post a Comment