This could be fun...... Ferrari blast 'fundamentally unfair and biased' F1 cost cap Fri 01 May, 05:20 PM - Crash.net Ferrari has criticised Formula 1s new optional budget cap as fundamentally unfair and perhaps even biased and as being liable to create a two-tie, split-level championship of haves and have-nots as Luca di Montezemolo hinted that the teams involvement is not a never-ending story. The £40 million limit was formally ratified during a meeting of the governing bodys World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris earlier this week, with those teams that adhere to it set to benefit from such technical incentives as movable front and rear wings, an engine that is not subject to a rev limit, unlimited out-of-season track testing, no restrictions on the scale and speed of wind tunnel testing and twice as much KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) power none of which will be available to their free-spending rivals. FIA President Max Mosley has suggested that as the top flights longest-standing entrant, Ferrari would set a strong example in pledging its support to the budget cap something its own president, di Montezemolo, has made it clear the team is unlikely to do. The Italian wrote to Mosley on 28 April two days before the details of the cap were made public expressing his misgivings about the idea and complaining that the Scuderia had been allowed insufficient time to consider the proposal before the WMSC reunion. According to international news agency Reuters, di Montezemolo warned Mosley that Ferraris status meant it had guaranteed rights within the sport and that he expected these to be respected. He added that he had always been concerned about a cost cap mainly because I consider that there are serious technical difficulties in making sure that any cap can realistically be monitored. The 61-year-old contended that the move would likely create two categories of teams and confuse the public, and suggested the regulation changes are being unnecessarily rushed through, adding that: Additionally, any controversy [regarding] the actual respect of the cost cap would undermine the image of Formula 1 and could seriously damage any involved team. Though Ferrari is not the only one of the sports ten current teams to have reacted cautiously to the cap, Mosley afforded di Montezemolos arguments short shrift, insisting that unless urgent action is taken to rein in F1s out-of-control expenditure, Honda is unlikely to be the last manufacturer or independent outfit to pull the plug on it involvement. I hope Ferrari will take the lead in agreeing the cost cap mechanism, the 68-year-old wrote in a return letter, thus freeing its engineers to work and preserving its shareholders money. As you know, we are in an unprecedented situation. The car industry and financial services are the two main sources of Formula 1 income. Both are in serious difficulty. We cannot just sit and wait, hoping nothing bad will happen. We have already lost one manufacturer. Despite my repeated requests, not a single manufacturer has given us a legally-binding undertaking that it will continue in Formula 1.We may lose another manufacturer team at any moment. We already know that the current levels of expenditure are unsustainable for the independent teams. If we are to reduce the risk of the Formula 1 World Championship collapsing, we have to allow new teams in. We also have to reduce costs drastically. The matter is therefore extremely urgent. Ferrari refused to comment on the budget cap announcement on Thursday, but in a separate interview di Montezemolo also hinted that despite almost six decades continuous participation in F1, no condition is permanent. We want Formula 1 to be a technologically competitive series where there is competition in which we can develop gearboxes, engines, electronics, and yes, why not KERS, he told the official F1 website, and then transfer this to our road cars. Competing in Formula 1 means extreme competition between teams, drivers, cars, technology and technicians. We want to maintain this kind of level. This is the reason why weve been against a standardised engine. What I feel is important is that we have stability and credibility of governance of Formula 1. What I think we need is a strong political authority, we need clear rules, we need teams that are very close away from the track and good competition at the track and we need a modern, efficient company as the commercial rights-holder. Having said that I dont like to do polemics, as this is what Formula One doesnt need as it is facing difficult times. I personally have a lot of passion and Ferrari has a lot of passion, but this is not a never-ending story, so we will see.
I know what they need! Me to invite Max and his close friends round for a wine and swine flu party... Something is always wrong, Dave. The fact that I am not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle.
grasping wow. is he seriously arguing that it's a bad idea because if you get caught cheating it will tarnish your image?
The problem is that nobody would know are they cheating or not, as the FIA reseves the right to determine the real cost irrespective what the teams paid for the said items/thinks it cost them. Considering the consistency the FIA has had enforcing the current rules, I´m not too confident about these.. IMHO, "the cost comission" could at any time find a team "cheating" should it desire so.
Hmmm...is Mosley asking for a lesser series with budget control or more efficient spending (a la Brawn GP)? I agree with LDM about the need for consistent rules and regulations to avoid presenting a confusing grid, but in this case they are just trying to maintain a full grid of cars versus having only 4 or 5 teams that can afford to compete in F1. Sometimes you have to look beyond yourself to understand a situation fully (actually, you must always do that).
'No condition is permanent' . . . . . . So in the ideal world it would be wonderful to see a P6 at Sebring running on 20 March 2010!!! They could build a car off the FXX and talk about the fan support - - The crowd would be awesome. Carol
Unfortunately, if you check the latest on F1-Live, it appears that di Montezemolo has essentially backed off. He says that Ferrari is committed to Formula one. That is unfortunate, in my view, for both the fans and Formula 1. I believe that if Ferrari left F1 and took 90% of its fans with it those left woulf find it much easier to live with E & M. On the other hand, both European and American (US & Canada) race fans would be treated to a combination of prototype and production Ferrari racing (in their respective LeMans series) at much more reasonable pricing than F1.
Amen, brother. Ferrari would make an AWESOME addition to LeMans. It's a fantastic series here and in Europe with lots of growth potential. The GT2 class they've been in is great and I hope it continues but they really need to step up to P1 level. One nice aspect of an F1 spending cap (if it's actually realistic to pull off): More money available to put into a prototype program. And a road-going version of a prototype! Fortunately, it looks to be at least possible: Demontezemolo and Domenicali will attend LeMans this year in an official capacity. See f1-live.com for more.
Ha ha no! It's the only way I can look at F1 now like the joke it's become. Bernie and Slap happy Max are so well past there sell by date, they stink to high hell. As I said earlier it's not about the racing any more, and it's a shame because that is looking good this year. We shall see the outcome of this lastest feud. I maintain the root cause of all disputes, is Bernie's mouth piece, a Power Mad dictator called Porno Max
