Cap in yo' ass!

While I have my doubts as to whether or not salary caps are ever going to become a reality in Formula One, I am all for it, so long as the caps aren't too low, as these drivers do deserve a filthy amount of money, just not an absurd amount. Can't cap it too low, or else they won't be able to pay for their superlicences!

One of the reasons I am for a cap is because I think it will honestly help the spectacle of the sport. While this may not make a load of sense right off the bat think about somebody like Ralf Schumacher. I think he had a $20 million retainer at Toyota and did nothing for the team other than enjoy their dollars. He no longer goes racing in F1 because he wasn't worth that kind of money. I can't remember exact figures but I think Truli was only being paid $3 million to $7 million. He still races for Toyota, even though he doesn't do too much either. He at least doesn't demand dumb amounts of money.

My point is, if there is a ceiling to salary's, the driver market will become much more competitive. I feel you would see more new drivers in the sport and less lifers who are around for no good reason other than to collect a fat pay check. New drivers could move up, while others moved out.

People would race harder to either secure their position or to prove they are worth more, which would thus make on track action more enjoyable... and now is the time, since supposedly these 2009 cars are stripped down enough to make passing feasible, I think a salary cap would make everybody that much hungrier to race their asses off as opposed to do just enough. The back of the grid could become fun once again.

Below are a list of guys that didn't need to be in Formula One even in 2008:

Barrichello has been around since 1993. I love & respect Rubens... but the curtain has closed. I don't care that M. Schumacher was his team mate for many years. Yeah, Ferrari gave team orders. We all know that, but I strongly doubt that even if they did not that Schumi would not have triumphed all the same. We probably won't be seeing him again.

Fischichella has been around since 1996. Turdsy has never done anything worth while. He won a race in 2003 due to not crashing. Won 2 additional races when with Renault, compared to his team mate's 14 during the same period. I don't care that his team mate was Fernando Alonso. They were driving the same car.

Trulli has been around since 1997. He won Monaco in 2004 and it was a well deserved win. Other than that, eh? Sure, I know he hasn't been in great cars, but the guy has never seemed to run well over entire race distances. He should retire and become a test driver because he does have speed, but usually only over the course of a few laps.

Heidfeld has been around since 2000. What has he done since then? Nothing, other than bring the beard back to F1, which is a noble pursuit, but has done nothing for his overall speed. Plus, he talks like a German Elmer Fudd. Suck it up. The Schumacher Brothers didn't speak like that. He's only been on the podium 11 times out of 150 starts. Go away. If he doesn't perform VERY well this year, he should be gone... and if he isn't then BMW is stupid.

Button has been around since 2000. I can't feel sorry for Button. He's been touted as the new British hope for so many years. Luckily for the British Lewis Hamilton came along and actually came thru on that promise. Button had one good year: 2004, where he finished top 3 ten different times and ended the season "best of the rest" behind Ferrari. Button would probably be racing this year had he just gone to Williams back in 2005, as Williams has sucked the past 4 years and he probably could have continued to hold a seat at Williams just due to the fact that Williams knew they weren't making that great of cars, thus just keeping the same drivers out of respect for their sub-par cars. It is a shame, as I have a feeling that Williams are going to have a very good car this year. We probably won't see Button this year. Maybe we will. I don't know, but if he never comes back to F1 again I won't really miss him.

Webber has been hanging about since 2002. I like Mark Webber a lot and I know he has been in shitty cars his whole career. But still. His first race, the 2002 season opener in his native Australia he finished 5'th for Minardi. That was his best finish until May of 2005. He has been on the podium twice. Maybe this season will prove different. If Webbo doesn't impress this year, I vote him out of the fraternity.

So let's cap some salaries? It won't hurt any body, and it might just do some good?