The idea of a three-car team is nothing new. It used to be common sense in an era when there was no constructor’s title in the Formula One. Plenty of teams appeared with three or even more cars at a race. A good example is Maserati with their 250F challenger or Cooper with the T40 series. This continued deep into the 1960s when sponsoring made their introduction on the Lotus. In the 1970s, you had constructors like March who sold plenty of cars to teams and drivers. However, the Formula One became more expensive and more introduced worldwide. The three-teams faded away to the side-line of Formula One. Years passed by, until June 1995 when it becomes clear that there are plans in the making to allow teams to race with three cars.
The best part of this idea is the Bernie Ecclestone himself. He backed the idea of teams using a third car during a Grand Prix weekend. Also Max Mosley was positive about the proposed idea. The reason this plan was opted has two stories. One of them is that Alain Prost was looking to return on the grid in 1996, rumoured was with McLaren. However, David Coulthard signed a two year deal with the team while Mika was already onboard as their driver. Therefore, a third-car could be solution. In this case Coulthard could enter the third-car while Prost would join the team as one of their drivers.
The other idea behind it was the fact that young talent could get their first taste with the Formula One. Initially only the top teams such as Benetton, McLaren, Ferrari and so on would have the opportunity to enter a third-car during one of the races. During the Grand Prix weekends where the teams would enter a third-car this car’s/drivers result would not count for the championship. It was believed that during the European races the teams would be able to enter a third-car.
Several team principals such as Flavio Briatore were positive about the idea, while Jean Todt immediately said that Ferrari would not bring an extra car to any Grand Prix. Ron Dennis on the other hand would keep his ideas for himself. During the 1995 Italian Grand Prix at Monza the Formula One Commission came together for a meeting to discuss also this plan. Eventually they came with the notice that the plans would be put on-hold.
While it would not be mandatory for teams to enter a third car, and the results would not count for the championship most of the people were not that enthusiast about the plan. The concerns, as the amount of extra money that had to be spend. It meant a new chassis had to be constructed and therefore also more spare-parts and so on. Gary Anderson even stated that it would a disaster for the Formula One. Another reason to put it on-hold was the risk of pushing out up-and-coming teams from the grid.
In the end the plan would not materialise. However, where the teams 30years ago said that they would risk the new team to push them of the grid, today they say the opposite. They don’t want new teams on the grid, see the Andretti saga. Therefore, a third car this days would be a good step for the top teams so young talent can get their first taste in the Formula One. As well a separated championship for the talent would help the Formula One survive.
