Ferrari threats leaving F1 if FIA decides to take the single engine route...

Title says it all. I just heard about it on Italian TV. Nothing on the web yet.

I agree 100% with Montezemolo's position.

 

Here's something for the few who speak Italian: http://www.gazzetta.it/Motori/Formula1/Primo_Piano/2008/10/27/motoreunico.shtml

Ferrari's press release states that uniforming the engines would deprive F1 of its reason for existence: competition and technological development.

 

I cant see how F1 would ever be the same again. How could Ferrari not use a ferrari engine when its arguably the engine that makes Ferrari, and Ferraris existence is to race F1.
Whats that Enzo saying again? "You pay for the engine but the rest comes for free".

 

and rightful so.

Whats wrong with teams who are less well of to 'rent' an engine of a larger team?

 

Another reason for Max Mosley to split, Toyota is barking the samething, I cannot see Honda, BMW, and Mercedes not doing the same. Time for the FOTA to step up.

 

+1

I really hope that F1 survives all this madness. Uniforming of the engines, leaving historic tracks, shortening SPA...etc.

F1 is being slowly killed.

 

Here's from F-1 live:

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/081027190223.shtml

Looks like Ferrari is pulling out the "nuclear option" to stop this ridiculous idea. The next thing Mosley will propose is driverless robot cars working on radio control to reduce the cost of paying the drivers and their support staff.

Why not just have standard production cars of each manufacturer pulling around billboards of all their sponsors instead of a race at all? That would reduce cost and still keep the sponsors happy.

This standard engine built from an outside source and supplied to each team is a stupid, stupid idea. First it was spec tires. Then spec electronic boxes. Now, spec engines. Is this Formula one or Formula Ford?

Max... take a hike, OK?

 

I think that the FIA should impose the use of the Prius to all teams so that to keep the costs down and save the planet at the same time...

Kill two birds with one stone.
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While a lot of talks have been ongoing about reducing costs, car manufacturers have repeatedly stated they do not want to go into a standard engine system in Formula One. Against all odds however, the FIA are now starting the tender process for a standard engine.

The request not only involves standard engines, but also includes the supply of power transmissions systems such as the gearbox or clutch, for use as of 2010 until 2012.

A statement by the FIA reads: "The FIA will today open the tender process for the appointment of a third party supplier of engines and transmission systems to be used by competitors in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship."

More information on the specific requirements will be published shortly

The final nail in the coffin for me!!! That freaking half-wit sex mad muppet will not be content till he has ruined the sport completely.

 

Reduce costs? Just put a stick shift back on the floor. Getting rid of the electronic paddle shift would save teams millions and make F1 more exciting. Then we'd see who the good drivers are...

 

I could never see Ferrari using anyone elses engine (i know they did in the early days but i am talking about now) so this does not surprise me. I am done with the sport for ever if they ever succeed in bringing this stupid rule in. I just cant see it happening though.

 

I wonder if perhaps the "two race engine" rule should go in the interest of cost savings? (Yes I know - they said the rule was to save costs) - but:

Is it not possible that it would be just as cheap (or cheaper) to let the teams rebuild them as need be - rather than having to over-engineer them to eke out the two races plus practice? For sure we would not be speculating on whether McL needs to turn down the power on their cars for Brazil...

As long as we are going there, how about dropping the mandatory tire/type changes? Let them run what they think is appropriate.

 

Agree 100% and also the shiitty rulings off the track and on the track by the courts, council, and stewards.....its really beginning to be a joke.

 

+1

 

Ferrari in quit threat over standard engine

By Jonathan Noble Monday, October 27th 2008, 19:16 GMT


Ferrari have issued a bombshell warning that they will reconsider their participation in Formula One if the FIA presses ahead with the introduction of a standard engine.

On a day when the FIA confirmed it was still pushing on with its plans to introduce standard engines in F1, Ferrari became the second team to publicly threaten to withdraw from the sport if the concept goes ahead.

In a statement issued following a board meeting at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters, the team made it clear that it did not believe the move to standard powerplants was right for F1.

"Whilst reiterating its wholehearted commitment to a substantial and needed reduction in costs in Formula 1, starting with propulsion, the Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that such a move would detract from the entire raison of a sport with which Ferrari has been involved continuously since 1950, a raison d'etre based principally on competition and technological development," said the statement.

"The Board of Directors expressed the opinion that should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate, with its partners the viability of continuing its presence in the sport."

Ferrari's statement came less than an hour after Toyota team president John Howett told autosport.com that the Japanese manufacturer would almost certainly be out of F1 if the standard engine idea went ahead. Howett also suggested that other manufacturers would follow suit.

""I think you will see manufacturers potentially leaving F1 if there is a standard engine," Howett told autosport.com. "I don't think any of the manufacturers want a homogenized engine. I think the outcome depends partially on the FIA and the World Motor Sport Council, and whether they have a mind to press through with the idea."

The FIA has already opened the tender for the supply of standard engines from 2010 to 2012, with the governing body claiming several 'interested parties' had expressed an interest in applying for the deal.

Although it has widely been talked about that manufacturers would withdraw from F1 if the standard engine idea went through, Ferrari's decision to go public with their quit threat is a major development - as the Italian manufacturer have previously shied away from such dramatic statements.

It comes with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo heading the Formula One Teams' Association's (FOTA) effort to coordinate with the FIA a package of rules changes.

 

Thanks for the post Ron, it is excellent that LDM is actually stating this. If this does not wake up the FIA, I don't know what will.

 

To assume that the FIA was completely serious about the single engine F1 series is likely wrong. Personally, I don´t believe for one second that the powers that be in the FIA did not think that the manufacturers would rebel against the idea.

This is just a negotiating ploy, not sure to what end, but there will be some comprimise, like a single transaxle, etc. Too obvious to anyone serious that a single engine concept would take away the biggest reason for watching F1. There is something else up the FIA´s sleeve.

 

If this is to happen, look for Ferrari to dramatically increase their profile and investment in the A1 GP series, where they are the sole engine supplier. This has been a long time coming and is the reason that Ferrari is involved in the A1 and was not in favor of a "break away" series proposed by other teams. They already have their own! We may soon have the F1/A1 version of the CART/IndyCar war.

 

The engine deal will belong to the manufacturer who bring Max and Bernie the highest bid.

Is there any real doubt whom that will be?

RM

 

I guess I don't get it - the HIGHEST bid? OR - maybe you mean something truly machiavellian?

 

Its about time. I'm surprised Ferrari waited this long and have continued in it this long. I hope they do quit. In fact, I PRAY they quit. It believe it would be the best thing that ever happened to Ferrari and Formula One all in one fell swoop.

And I have a question, why do these cars have to only race in Formual One? Couldnt the teams create a new series under different rules and management? There was Grand Prix racing before F1 came into being, why not revert back to something like that?

 

+1000. My hero.

Hope Bernie and Max dig their heels in (so to speak) on this one. After all, who needs Ferrari, BMW, Toyota or Honda anyway? They don't control anything......

 

Then it will just be another spec series

 

I've been awaiting Ferrari's statement about this. And now that it's out, the FIA will finally have to back off of this misguided notion. It would be unthinkable to see the F2010 with a Cosworth engine in it.

If saving $ is the real goal, then the FIA needs to come up with an accounting and regulation regime to prevent team R&D from spending more than a pre-determined amount. I recognize how incredibly difficult this is to implement, but the reality is the top teams can afford to spend way more than the bottom teams, and that used to be ok. But in order to preserve the sport, there need to be some financial fence posts. If as much effort were focused on P&L innovation as wind tunnel innovation, I'm sure this could have been solved. Let the teams spend whatever they want on their Paddock guests, who fund their endeavours. But keep the factory, testing and race costs strictly regulated. This will force a new kind of competition - who can extracts the most tenths of a second per dollar?

 

Ermmm Aha yes Max great idea!! may the best driver win..
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