German Car Forum

Ferrari will quit F1 if 2010 rules stand


Tue May 12, 2009 11:08am EDT

* Ferrari threaten not to enter F1 next season
* Board upset by plans for greater freedom for capped teams

By Mark Meadows

MILAN, May 12 (Reuters) - Ferrari will quit Formula One at the end of season if the sport adopts a budget cap for 2010, the champions said on Tuesday after a board meeting. "No F1 in 2010 if the rules do not change. Ferrari confirms its opposition to the new rules imposed by FIA and does not intend to register cars for the 2010 F1 world championship," a statement said.
Toyota and Red Bull have already threatened not to enter next year's championship unless the new rules published by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) are changed.
The FIA, headed by Max Mosley, want to introduce an optional 40 million pound ($60.7 million) 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.
Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo, head of the Formula One Teams' Association (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 May 29 for teams wishing to compete in 2010 to enter and state whether they want a cap or not.
Ferrari, the sport's oldest and most successful team, also threatened a pullout in October if proposals for a standard engine for all teams went ahead.




....


So, after Toyota & Red Bull also Ferrari joined the wagon ... Who's next?

I hope everyone else. F1 has become extremely messy. It's not a real F1 Championship anymore, more like a PR stunt. Please bring the essence of the sport back!

Amen brother, amen.

I have a solution!



Max: Bernie:

I think the teams that feel that they want to make F1 into what it should be, should just quit and start over, leaving Max and Bernie behind to meddle with the soon-to-be second leauge.

This is the F1 for gods sake, not some socialist experiment along the line of "everyone should be able to come and play".

Sorry but max likes to be tied up

Or spanked ...

From autosport forum



So cash strapped A1GP could be the new Grand Prix racing. They should call the series Grand Prix motor racing os something like that.

The break-away championship is fast becoming highly probable.
Ferrari
McLaren
BMW
Toyota
Red-Bull

Let the games begin!

There is someting special about starting over, doing away with old politics and bring back what made the sport special.

Quite a few great teams seems to consider leaving.

And where is the bloody confirmation then? When it comes to F1, autoblogs are like tabloids and spin or jump to conclusions about absolutely anything. Therefore f1live.com is the only source I use for F1 news, they give it to me straight with no BS.

Ferrari confirm readiness to pull out of F1



Ferrari's Board of Directors, chaired by Luca di Montezemolo, held a meeting on Tuesday at their Maranello headquarters to discuss business matters, but high on the order were the recent decisions taken by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council regarding the controversial budget cap option beginning next year.

Under the 2010 regulations, teams opting to limit their budgets to 45 million Euros ($60m US) would enjoy much greater technical freedom than other teams, effectively creating a 'two-tier' series within Formula One.

Many teams find the matter unacceptable as it currently stands, and the FIA's deadline of May 29th in order to file entries for the 2010 championship only added pressure to an already volatile situation with some teams speaking of boycotts.

Today Ferrari has boldly stated that, unless common ground can be found, it will retire from Formula One at the end of the current season.

Speaking of the WMSC decisions, a Ferrari statement indicated that "for the first time ever in Formula 1, the 2010 season will see the introduction of two different sets of regulations based on arbitrary technical rules and economic parameters."

"The Board considers that if this is the regulatory framework for Formula 1 in the future, then the reasons underlying Ferrari's uninterrupted participation in the World Championship over the last 60 years – the only constructor to have taken part ever since its inception in 1950 – would come to a close."

A long-standing point of conflict has been the FIA's tendency to move ahead with its plans without – from the teams' point of view – taking the considerations forwarded by the teams under serious review.

"The Board also expressed its disappointment about the methods adopted by the FIA in taking decisions of such a serious nature and its refusal to effectively reach an understanding with constructors and teams," the Ferrari press release continued.

"The rules of governance that have contributed to the development of Formula 1 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 Formula One Teams Association is not against the principle of budget capping but many teams have been lobbying against the 'two-tier' system on the basis that the sport, like any sport, should have identical regulations for everyone involved. Now Ferrari calls for a change in the way F1 is governed as well.

"The same rules for all teams, stability of regulations, the continuity of the FOTA's endeavours to methodically and progressively reduce costs, and governance of Formula 1 are the priorities for the future," Ferrari affirm.

"If these indispensable principles are not respected and if the regulations adopted for 2010 will not change, then Ferrari does not intend to enter its cars in the next Formula 1 World Championship."

"Ferrari trusts that its many fans worldwide will understand that this difficult decision is coherent with the Scuderia's approach to motor sport and to Formula 1 in particular, always seeking to promote its sporting and technical values. The Chairman of the Board of Directors was mandated to evaluate the most suitable ways and methods to protect the company's interests," the statement concludes.


Source: F1 : Ferrari confirm readiness to pull out of F1 - FERRARI - F1-Live.com

^^
That was quick Sasha but all that's said is that Ferrari are ready to pull out, they have yet to do so by handing in a resignation to FIA. After all, there is still room for talks and FOTA will actually be meeting up in London today to discuss the matter. But I do admire Ferrari for standing up and I hope Mclaren will do the same. Renault have expressed similar disgust.

I perfectly understand what you're trying to say and i agree that guys at MA wrongly interpreted it... But also, i think this will be official since they've said loud and clear that they are ready to pull out. Maybe this catastrophic season for them is also the reason for this...

Although they are ready it doesn't mean that they want to. Pulling out isn't as easy as switching off the electricity at their factories. There are long term contracts signed with suppliers, sponsors and others so it would be a great inconvenience. But most importantly, F1 is Ferrari and Ferrari is F1. They earn more money from F1 merchandise then what they do on car manufacturing. Both Bernie and Ferrari knows this and Bernie wants them to say and does Mubadala which has a stake in the team. If Ferrari leave, F1 ticket sales would drop by 50-75%. So this chapter of soap opera is far from over, and I'm sure FIA will finally bow down to the demands as they need Ferrari more than Ferrari needs them.

^Yep, some good points you bring...

Yep, good points.
But the FIA was such an annoyance lately with their constant weird ideas, and their disdain for the teams, that I think many teams are nearing the no-return point.

The teams could very well try to build their own chamionship. If Ferrari and Macca are there the fans will follow them.

The FIA is nothing without the teams.
The teams ultimately don't need the FIA. It would be unconvenient and rather costly but they can do without it.

It looks like Renault's next. Who else? BMW Sauber? McLaren?



Renault joins rivals in pull-out warning

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 13:31



Renault has become the latest team to threaten its withdrawal from Formula 1 at the end of the season over budget capping, as the row over next year’s regulations continues to intensify.
A day after Ferrari joined Toyota and Red Bull in warning the FIA that it won’t sign up to 2010 unless the current regulations are changed, former champion outfit Renault has given the governing body the same ultimatum.
The Enstone-based squad says it has been left “frustrated” that the Formula One Teams’ Association’s own cost-cutting proposals have been “completely ignored” and that the governing body has pushed through its own rules without consultation.
Renault’s F1 president Bernard Rey said that, while it wants to remain committed to Formula 1, it will have no choice but to pull out if a two-tier championship is created.
"Renault has always considered Formula 1 as the pinnacle of motor sport and the perfect stage to demonstrate technical excellence,” he said in a statement.
“We remain committed to the sport, however we cannot be involved in a championship operating with different sets of rules, and if such rules are put into effect, we will be forced to pull out at the end of this season."
Team managing director Flavio Briatore, a long-time advocate of cost-cutting in Formula 1, added that Renault was not prepared to accept the FIA introducing such drastic rule changes without consultation.
"Our aim is to reduce costs while maintaining the high standards that make Formula 1 one of the most prestigious brands on the market,” Briatore said.
“We want to achieve this in a coordinated manner with the regulatory and commercial bodies, and we refuse to accept unilateral governance handed out by the FIA.
“If the decisions announced by the World Council on the 29th of April 2009 are not revised, we have no choice but to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of 2009."



F1 | ITV Sport

I wonder how much pressure the kill-joys of FIA can take.

F1 is supposed to be the pinnacle of of motorsports, not a budget one. I understand the economic situation now, but, the economy will always rise and fall.

Now, rather than attracting big manufacters, F1 is attracting small spenders, and budget teams. No offense, but i think this is not the place for them. They have other series to suit their budgets.

Personally, i think both Max and especially Bernie, are greedy people. They have totally destroyed F1. I really hope to see Ferrari develop a diesel and take the fight to Audi and Peugoet at Le Mans, with Schumacher 'tagging' along.

That's my point as well, this isn't the first recession that motor sport has experienced and to be honest it's a fairly mild one. F1 and The Victoria's Secret Show are all highly appealing because of the exclusivity and for being the absolute best. By allowing anyone with money to participate, the attraction would erode.

€40 million is peanuts in the business world and would result in random drivers with inheritance money starting up a team that would just wreck other cars and waste time on the circuit. Like it has all been stated, those who are whinning about money are very free to join GP2.

Ferrari and Mercedes have transferred a lot of knowledge gained in F1 to their production cars. And if they are prohibited by budget restrictions in pushing technological boundaries, then F1 become nothing but a market circuit. Thankfully fans and manufacturers stand united on this so Mosley better take his thumb out of his ass and realise that he and Bernie are just wasting people's time and money now.

Dieter Rencken's, Autosport.com, rumors & speculations regarding the possibility of 7 abandoning teams buying the A1GP franchise?

^^
Amazing news and I pray that teams are considering the option. It would unlock the handcuffs forever tying F1 to the tyranny of Max and Bernie. Finally the sport could be ruled by democracy and reopen the ports to technological breakthroughs.

McMerc needs right now to officially, that's to say verbally, support the Ferrari/Renault/Toyota/Red Bull camp.