FlakeySugarButt
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Joined: 26 May 2008
Location: Lovin' JK Forever!
Total Posts: 1904
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 Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject: Ferrari To Quit F1 in 2010? |
 
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| BBCSportOnline wrote: | Ferrari have threatened to quit Formula 1 at the end of the season if the sport continues with plans to introduce an optional £40m budget cap from 2010.
"No F1 in 2010 if the rules do not change," said a statement. "Ferrari does not intend to register cars for the 2010 F1 world championship."
Ferrari fear the evolution of a two-tier championship, between those teams who adopt the cap and those who do not.
The teams will discuss the plans with FIA chief Max Mosley in the next week.
Ferrari, in a statement, insist their announcement is not simply posturing: "The same rules for all teams, stability of regulations, the continuity of... endeavours to methodically and progressively reduce costs, and governance of Formula 1 are priorities for the future.
"If these indispensable principles are not respected, and if the regulations decided for 2010 will not change, Ferrari does not intend to enter its cars."
Ferrari's stance has divided opinion on whether or not they will go ahead with their threats of withdrawing.
Former team boss Eddie Jordan told the BBC: "Maybe this isn't the posturing that most people think it is - I wouldn't be certain that they wouldn't carry this out.
"Ferrari shareholders are very concerned at the losses that are being made in the company at this time, the credit crunch has had an impact, and I think this (announcement) is different.
"Everyone concerned would be very silly not to put 100% of their time, effort and diligence into making sure there is compatibility between the sport, the governing body and Ferrari."
Maybe this isn't the posturing that most people think it is - I wouldn't be certain that they wouldn't carry this out
The announcement will put to the test Mosley's resolve after he claimed earlier this month that F1 could live without Ferrari, the sport's most famous, most successful, and longest-tenured team.
"The sport could survive without Ferrari," he said. "It would be very sad. It is the Italian national team."
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, meanwhile, dismissed claims Ferrari could quit F1 on Tuesday, telling the Times: "Ferrari are not stupid. They don't want to leave Formula 1 and we don't want to lose them, so we'll get to grips with it."
However, Toyota and Red Bull have also already threatened not to enter next year's championship unless the new rules change.
And Ferrari have criticised the FIA's decision-making process, stating: "The rules of governance that have contributed to the development of F1 over the last 25 years have been disregarded, as have the binding contractual obligations between Ferrari and the FIA itself regarding the stability of the regulations.
"The same rules for all teams, stability of regulations, the continuity of the F1 Teams' Association's (FOTA) endeavours to methodically and progressively reduce costs, and governance of Formula 1 are the priorities for the future.
I would be amazed if Ferrari aren't racing in 2010 - this is just the opening of a series of discussions
"If these indispensable principles are not respected and if the regulations adopted for 2010 will not change, then Ferrari do not intend to enter our cars in the next Formula 1 World Championship."
The FIA wants to introduce an optional £40m budget cap next year to encourage new teams to enter.
The plan would allow capped teams to operate with far greater technical freedom than those continuing with unlimited budgets.
However, Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo, head of FOTA, has warned it would create a two-tier championship that could be "fundamentally unfair and perhaps even biased".
The FIA has set a deadline of 29 May for teams wishing to compete in 2010 to enter and state whether they want a cap or not.
But, BBC Five Live Formula 1 correspondent David Croft fully expects Ferrari to line up on the grid in 2010, despite the threat.
"I would be amazed if Ferrari aren't racing in 2010," he said, "I think this is just the opening of a series of discussions that will take place between the sports most historic team and the governing body.
The teams are unanimous in opposing a two-tier championship
"It's inconceivable that we would have Formula 1 without Ferrari. Mosley says the sport doesn't need them, but I think a lot of people would beg to disagree."
That is a sentiment echoed by the sport's drivers, with world champion Lewis Hamilton saying he "could not imagine" F1 without Ferrari while Renault's Fernando Alonso added it was "impossible" for it to happen.
And BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was left bemused by Mosley's comments.
He said: "I thought that people were looking and listening to the fans worldwide and Ferrari is obviously the biggest name in F1 with many supporters and has been there since the very beginning, so they belong in F1."
Ferrari, the sport's oldest and most successful team, also threatened a pull-out in October if proposals for a standard engine for all teams went ahead. |
F1 wouldn't be the same without Ferrari. I'm not a supporter of that team but they are classic F1 and you whether you like them or not the Prancing Horse is the epitome of the sport.
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steel bat
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Rank: Lazy Lounge Junior
Joined: 29 Mar 2009
Location: Hertfordshire
Total Posts: 132
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| Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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To my mind, the sport is already over-regulated and if these new rules end up with a two-tier situation it would make a nonsense of it being a race.
but,
Ferrari are the iconic team of F1 and while they should certainly be able to express an opininion, I'm not so sure that as just one team they should have so much influence as to dictate what rules the rest of the teams either will or will not play by.
If Ferrari are going to start laying down ultimatums then perhaps the FIA should call their bluff.
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