Ferrari blasts FIA

Scuderia fearful for future of F1

Last updated: 6th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ferrari blasts FIA

Ferrari: statement

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Ferrari has strongly criticised motorsport's governing body, the FIA, as French manufacturer Renault discusses its future in Formula One.

The Italian team, the oldest in the sport, has hit out against what it sees as a perceived bias against manufacturers under the leadership of former FIA president Max Mosley.

Bosses at Maranello fear Renault will go the same way as other teams such as Toyota, who quit the sport on Wednesday.

Honda and BMW have already pulled out of F1, while Bridgestone will no longer be official tyre supplier to F1 when its current contract runs out at the end of next season.

In a statement released on its website, Ferrari compared the sport to the Agatha Christie detective novel 'Ten Little Indians' in which the murderer is not exposed until after the other characters have been killed off.

The statement read: "It could be seen as a parody of "Ten Little Indians," the detective novel by Agatha Christie, first published in England back in 1939, but the reality is much more serious.

Leaving

"Formula 1 continues to lose major players: in the past twelve months, Honda, BMW, Bridgestone and, only this morning, Toyota, have announced they are leaving the sport.

"In exchange, so to speak, we will now have, Manor, Lotus (at least in name only, as this incarnation has little to do with the team that gave us Colin Chapman, Jim Clark and Ayrton Senna to name but a few,) USF1 and Campos Meta."

Ferrari goes on to claim that the new teams are no substitute for the major manufacturers leaving the sport.

The staement goes on: "Can we claim that it's a case of like for like, just because the numbers sitting around the table are the same? Hardly and we must also wait and see just how many of them will really be there on the grid for the first race of next season in Bahrain and how many will still be there at the end of 2010.

"The reality is that this gradual defection from the F1 fold has more to do with a war waged against the major car manufacturers by those who managed Formula 1 over the past few years, than the result of any economic crisis.

"In Christie's work of fiction, the guilty party was only uncovered when all the other characters died, one after the other. Do we want to wait for this to happen or do we want to pen a different ending to the book on Formula 1?"

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Comments (17)

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Mike Fawcett says...

Blah Blah blah, Ferrari complaining about the quality of new teams when this season a new team won both champs. They can't throw unlimited funds at the car and test it 24/7 so now complain about the big teams pulling out of F1 saying the quality will slip. This is wrong. Have they got a crystal ball??? When that whole breakaway series was in the news about Silverstone time this year, they were talking about having Flavio running the new series..... What a great descision that would've been. A cheat as head. All this talk about the 'best' drivers and teams, bottom line is with next years rule about no re-fueling WILL show up a great car + driver. What are you complaining about? Ferrari and others want the rules under their control or influence saying in the press it would be better for spectators whereas really it would be better for them. I for one am loving the prospect of seeing the new teams, BMW and Toyota leaving isn't that big a deal. They'll probably be bought out by a new team anyway like Brawn did and have a great start to their F1 dynasty. Sure Fia could make getting into an F1 event cheaper and more affordable, but all this dreaming about a breakaway series that will go to Goodwood and all the other great classic circuits is nothing but a pipe-dream. Learn to love what you got or don't go/watch/complain about it. I know this season I've enjoyed watching Force India and Brawn this season.

Posted 16:14 6th November 2009

Zete Nathalie says...

Honestly, who really cares? No one really watches F1 anymore.

Posted 11:23 6th November 2009

Giselle Duarte says...

I couldn't agree more with Ferrari and Zas Man. Let's get the major manufactuers who have the finances to spend on the sport create their own formula. F1 without the major manufacturers is simply not F1. Let's see them battling it out on the old circuits where overtaking was a constant occurance, refuelling permitted, basically the drivers and teams going balls to the wall. That's the F1 everyone wants.

Posted 09:19 6th November 2009

Carlo Saltalamacchia says...

Cant call it F1 any more. Need to get the big boys back in. Whose gonna go pay all that money to watch noboddys go round. Good Statment from Ferrari.. If they go its doomed despite what the little paople say

Posted 20:18 5th November 2009

Jason Cammish says...

Without a doubt F1 is in a decline, Whilst Bernie makes his mega millions charging everyone the Earth to participate, I hope Damon Hill closes the door and gives F1 the boot for Silverstone why hold a race which makes a huge financial loss? Lets take a note from our friends across the pond, in the USA, now they know how to stage race weekends, be it NASCAR, INDY etc etc, they dont get crowds of 50,000 they get several hundred thousand or more, it's a massive spectacular event, with access all areas, not just for the Rich and famous but for the real fans US!! the reason they can do this is the ticket prices are very reasonable and unlike F1 a normal family can afford to make a weekend of it without breaking the bank. Bring back the sport to the normal people make it exciting and affordable and stop messing with the rules which is proving to be extremely frustrating for the teams, then maybe F1 might just turn the corner.......I live in hope...otherwise it will be a matter of time before we see all the Teams jump ship and have their own series.....Bernie and the FIA....I hope you read this!!

Posted 18:32 5th November 2009

Vic Saltalamacchia says...

The statement by Ferrari is 100% correct, F1 is the pinnacle of motor sport, Those who suggest F1 would be better without Ferrari obviously arnt Fans, Just look around at the number of Ferrari fans support the sport. Its a sport for the top players, the car manufacturers and thats who it should focus on. Manor, Lotus (at least in name only), USF1 and Campos Meta." Sorry, if this is the way its going then you can kiss F1 away. The best manufacturers in world competing for top spot, thats what F1 should be about, yes Champions league, I like that

Posted 17:51 5th November 2009

Michael Young says...

another one bite's the dust, it's going like sport's car racing did back in the 90's. factory team's in and out like yo yo's and rule's changing every season. more need's to be done to safeguard the future of F1 especilly now. Plus peolpe should be blaming ferrari for all these problem's. what are they going to blame ferrari for next swine flu?.

Posted 16:18 5th November 2009

John Winterburn says...

Basically no body is interested in F1 anymore. Clearly not - Manufacturers or Sponsors but sadly the paying public are still out there hoping for better times. Interesting that Ferarri choose to make this statement after the season has finished and once a certain Mr Todt has been confirmed as Pres Elec!! Does nobody get it? F1(as it once was), is over. Spoiled by politics, ego's and of course, money and greed.

Posted 15:38 5th November 2009

Mark Pashley says...

I agree that a break-away series would be good to maintain that elite status that F1 should maintain. On a slightly different subject, if Bernie removes the British GP from the calendar I urge all motorsport fans to boycott F1!! Even though I live in Canada, I still religiously watch F1 and not to see a British GP would be a tragedy. At least with a break-away series, teams wouldn't have to deal with money-hungry power-bosses like Bernie.

Posted 15:14 5th November 2009

Ben Goddard says...

Although manufacturers are pulling out of F1, i am not too worried at the moment. I know next years new entrants arent exactly established, but lets remember, its the small teams that everybody loves watching. remember Minardi? everyone wanted to see them do well. I personally dont think having a grid full of manufacturers is good for F1, I think a mix of manufacturers and independent teams is good for the sport. Jordan had success, as did williams and benetton.

Posted 14:37 5th November 2009

Zas Man says...

all im saying is that we need a break away series! full stop! only major players...like champions league of racing!

Posted 14:30 5th November 2009

Gordi Smyth says...

First of all.....it would be nice if all manufactures were involved but that's not happenin, my problem is ferrari once again feel agrieved about not gettin their way.....they're not interested about anybody else apart from themselves.......the discrimination they're talkin about comes from not being able to throw huge wads of cash into testing and as a result they were very ordinary in equal terms......i think they're just gettin embarassed incase another rookie team come in and give them another whooping like this year!!!!!

Posted 13:23 5th November 2009

Billy Graham says...

F1 is doing a full circle. 20 years ago it was only small private teams with cosworth engines taking on Ferrari - then the big car manufacturers thought it was a good idea to get in on the act ,but could not beat the likes of Ferrari and McLaren - This year there were even beaten by a new team (Brawn). Honda, BMW, & Toyota could not hack it - One team to be commended it Williams - they have been there for many years and might now rise again - they deserve it.

Posted 13:02 5th November 2009

Paul Richardson says...

Would Ferrari be as critical of the FIA if their under the table deals had not been made public this year? And in their own scenario, who is still left round the table to point fingers at, ah yes, ferrari too.......

Posted 12:58 5th November 2009

Thom Brown says...

F1 has been going down hill since they banned "slicks" and mucked about with qualifying. Fans used to love turning up on the Friday for Pactice sessions, Saturday for practice and qualifying, them warm up and teh race on the Sunday. It was the "full package" that attracted people to the sport, now the only interesting specticles are the Start pit stops and finish, the rest is teadious. My wife and I use dto travel regularly to europe because it was vaue for money, not any more!

Posted 12:54 5th November 2009

Chris Molloy says...

It really is about time that the federation of f1 teams told the fia enough is enough. Failing to follow through with the threat of establishing a splinter series has shown the teams to be willing to keep the traditional f1 alive but what remains of it? it is now nothing but a bureaucracy of regulations and limitations hampering the development of the sport itself. Establish this splinter series please, then we will finally see the FIA realize that F1 revolves around the teams and is not a political institution to be abused.

Posted 12:42 5th November 2009

Paul Lawrence says...

unfortunately the departure of major manufacturers means that F1 will become more of a one or 2 make series with a majority of teams buying engines from only a few makers already this year we saw over half the grid powered by just 2 engines. F1 should be a showcase for car makers. I hope that ALL manufacturers find the funds to contnue is this the pinicle of motor sport and give the new leadership a chance to build fairness for all teams to compete

Posted 11:53 5th November 2009
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