[Jeff Higgins]

F1 is the only racing series left wherein teams are required to design and build their own chassis. They can buy engines (or "power units" in today's hybrid power parlance), but the elite of the elite design and build their own engines as well. This is the polar opposite of any kind of a "spec" series. Some of that has crept in, yes, in an effort to "control" costs, so we do see "handout" items. I think electronics, maybe some brake, maybe some transmission stuff - I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can help on this.

The big teams spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars per year to put two cars on the grid for what, 18-20 races in a normal year? The down-grid teams simply cannot compete with that. And, even with hundreds of millions of dollars to spend, top teams cannot simply buy the most critical component - engineering talent.

Yes, they can hire innumerable extremely bright engineers. Everyone in F1 easily fits that description. But the very best of the best - the "savants" - are the ones who win in F1. Not the drivers. Adrian Newey is a prime example - he was Williams when they dominated. Then McLaren. Now Red Bull. Ross Braun was another. Team principles are darn near equally important. Cars and drivers are kind of secondary to talent in those positions. Right now, Mercedes and Red Bull have some of the best. Ferrari lost theirs when Braun left, and has suffered ever since. Follow those guys - team principles and engineers - and you will see that wherever they land, the teams win.