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FPRXR-6 · 10-15-2002, 09:09

Ferrari boss hints at withdrawal from F1
If �insane' proposals go ahead [15/10/02 - 08:18]

Luca di Montezemolo has hinted at withdrawing Ferrari from Formula One competition if some of Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone's �insane' ideas come to fruition. The Ferrari president is extremely proud of everything his team has achieved this season and, like several other team bosses, can't understand why the FIA would want to penalize anyone for being the best.

However, he is confident that when the board finally meets at the end of this month to discuss the proposals, that they won't get the necessary votes to implement them into the series.

"I'm proud that Ferrari is so strong," he told Italian television, RAI. "We've always accepted intelligent ideas that don't go against the spirit of Formula 1 but these ones are idiotic. I have to ask myself if there's a point in even investing in Formula 1 if it's like that. I'm confident that these ideas won't be implemented. However, it is clear that our patience is being tested. It is unthinkable, that those who have performed best get punished."

Mosley, who admits that some of the ideas presented are a little on the extreme side, such as the one regarding drivers switching teams throughout the year, fully believes that all issues presented are very sound and stand up to careful analysis.

"We are saying we have two problems,� he told the Guardian. "One is that the show is not particularly exciting, the other is that the costs are increasing, the receipts are decreasing and this has put the smaller teams in danger and will eventually put the bigger teams in danger. These are our suggestions for dealing with the problems. It has been left too long and these things have been discussed behind the scenes for some months. We have also discussed cost-cutting with major manufacturers [the engine suppliers] who have a huge interest in doing this and they can't even be bothered to discuss it. My message to the teams is that there is a serious problem in this sport. If you don't like our solution you'd better come up with one of your own. And quickly."