Ferrari’s threat to pull out of Formula One over disagreement with the sports world governing body has plunged the sport into fresh crisis.
Ferrari’s threat to pull out of Formula One over disagreement with the sports world governing body has plunged the sport into fresh crisis.
Ferrari has been vehemently opposing FIA’s decision of introducing budget caps from 2010, a stand that has been endorsed by the company’s board.
However, this is not the first time that the Italian team has threatened to quit the sport. In 1986, Ferrari had issued a similar threat because of FIA’s decision to introduce new engine regulations.
In the mid-1980s Formula One teams were run on engines ranging from V6 turbos (six cylinder turbo-charged engines) to naturally aspirated V12 (V-shaped 12 cylinder engines).
In order to introduce some sort of standardisation, FIA had proposed to put a limit on the number of cylinders to eight. Enzo Ferrari, founder of the iconic Italian brand, refused to accept FIA’s decision on engine regulation and threatened to pull out of Formula One if the governing body persisted with its plan.
Enzo’s son Piero recently said that his father was serious about his threat and was ready to compete in the Indianapolis 500.
In fact, Enzo had even got a Ferrari designed and built for the American CART series. Named Ferrari 637, the car had undergone tests and was ready to race on the Indy circuit. However, the car never made it to the starting grid of Indianapolis 500 as Enzo had his way with FIA and Ferrari continued to be a part of Formula One.
This time too, Ferrari has upped the ante. In an unconventional move, it has sought a stay from a French court on the introduction of new rules in 2010. Along with it, the Italian team has launched an information campaign through its website.
In a release, Ferrari has highlighted its ‘achievements’ in Formula One from 1950 to 2009. The release ends with this question, ‘Who wants this marvellous story to end?’
Other than the expected reactions of Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, the website contains a statement from Rocco Crimi, the Italian government’s secretary of sport.
Crimi says that the legend of Formula 1 is Ferrari. “Organising Formula 1 without Ferrari is like organising a wedding without the bride. The invited guests first would not understand and then abandon circuits and TV,” he has been quoted as saying. Clearly, Ferrari is in no mood to yield to FIA this time as well.
Will the FIA blink again?
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