Formula One's rich-poor divide

New York

THE withdrawal of two cash-poor Formula One teams, Caterham and Marussia, reduced the starting grid to 18 cars in last weekend's US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. And Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit outside São Paulo was reeling under the threat of a boycott by three other struggling teams, Sauber, Force India and Lotus.

The financial situation has prompted Formula One to do some soul searching, as it has periodically done throughout its history.