Not sure where else to post this but just found an interesting snippet in the sporting regs. I was looking to see if there's anything in the regs that state Marussia can be there as an entry without actually physically having the car at the track but couldn't see anything but I did however find this:
APPENDIX 7
ENTRY FEES FOR THE 2014 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
i) The winner of the 2014 World Championship for Constructors will be required to pay a basic
fee of US$516,128 plus US$6194 for each point gained in the 2014 World Championship for Constructors.
ii) Every other competitor will be required to pay a basic fee of US$516,1281
plus US$5161 for each point that competitor gained in the 2014 World Championship for Constructors.
In both cases the basic fee is due at the time of the application and the remainder by 30 November
of the year prior to the year to which this application relates.
Obviously if Marussia do make it to 2015 then it will cost them over half a million to race. What is more surprising, for every 1-2 that Mercedes scores it will cost them another $250k to race. Surely it's more cost effective for them to retire both cars now that they have sewn up the title.
Perhaps the real reason behind double points are the increased entry fees generated by them!
