Ferrari dominance good for F1 - Monisha Kaltenborn

Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn claims it would be better for Formula One if Ferrari were dominating rather than Mercedes.

Ferrari haven't won a title since 2008 when they secured the constructors' championship, while Mercedes have enjoyed drivers' and constructors' triumphs in each of the last three seasons.


"Of course it would be better if several teams were to fight for the title," she told German radio Deutschlandfunk.

"It was especially thanks to an excellent engine," Kaltenborn said of Mercedes' dominance. "But also a good aerodynamic package. But it's not good if there is dominance.

"If Ferrari was dominating, I think that would not hurt the sport as much. Ferrari has so many fans and the number of spectators would still be high."

However, despite new aerodynamic regulations for next year, Kaltenborn feels that Mercedes' superior engine will still give them the advantage.

"This (2017) is an opportunity for all the teams who have a certain development possibility to approach Mercedes," said Kaltenborn.

"But it will probably take another two years for the manufacturers to get close to the Mercedes engine."

She also has doubts about whether the 2017 rules will make F1 more spectacular.

"I have expressed my doubts from the outset," said the Sauber team boss.

"The fact that the cars will be faster and be harder to drive will not be noticed by the spectator," she said.

"If the difference would be 10 or 15 seconds per lap, they would notice it, but not if it is five or six seconds. So I'm concerned about that."

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • StigsSon

    Posts: 35

    As an F1 fan, I completely disagree. Dominance by ANY team diminishes the sport.

    Ferrari isn't F1.

    • + 0
    • Dec 8 2016 - 15:48
    • Kevin

      Posts: 5,393

      I do agree with what she says. Any team dominating is a bad thing, but Ferrari dominating the sport isn't as bad as any other team dominating. But yeah, I do think Ferrari is F1.

      • + 0
      • Dec 9 2016 - 08:49
  • ringo

    Posts: 3,633

    Mercedes Engine has a good consitenctie... Flexible and powerfull... Dont think people can surpass it now, or the engine rule gona change again... mayby get close but even in michael's years with ferrari engine , mercedes where good... But for next year would be the chassis change comes up, hopefully renault could close the gap bit more with there engine, but the chassis would next year's key. im sure all engines got improve, but fact is, the improvement rate of merceses in % is not so big as renault or ferrari probably, so the chassis should be the key i think. but on base of stable engine mercedes growth for that for sure, is not the power only, stability counts, Renaults new engine could be more powerfuller, but could be weaker on stability , its also with the ferrrari engine, most engine changes, so 3 times to change, is also on base on a new engine update also... my count is renault 2 first races could end up with a blow lolz...

    • + 0
    • Dec 8 2016 - 18:41

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar