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[myownalias]

Ferrari backtracking on di Montezemolo's comments; are Ferrari getting paranoid that people don't take these threats seriously any more? it happens roughly every six to ninth months so it's becoming a case of the boy who cried wolf. LDM's words were clear; "without Ferrari there is no Formula 1", and very arrogant; LDM should butt out and let Stefano Domenicali run F1 affairs!

[acosmichippo]

Seems pretty clear to me that if you're looking to be on the cutting edge of road car technology, F1 isn't the place for you anymore.

I think it would be interesting for Ferrari to jump from F1 back into prototype sports car racing. There teams/constructors are still able to develop everything on the car - not just aerodynamics. Nor would they be forced to use engines that don't translate well to their road cars. Audi and Peugot have known this for quite a while, and now Toyota and Porsche are getting back on the bandwagon.

So if what you really want is to develop new car technology through motorsport, then join a series that is conducive to that goal. Otherwise, accept F1 for what it is and STFU.

[fanboy]

I am NOT a Ferrari fan but aside from the threats, warnings or whatever you want to call them, when I read the article I agreed with a lot of what he had to say. I would rather see a third Ferrari, Mclaren, Red Bull or even a Mercedes than a dozen HRTs or Virgins though this point is tempered with the belief that there should be room for newcomers but all that is required is tougher enforcement of the 107% rule. Also F1 is too reliant on aero, a fact that has forced artificial overtaking aids into our sport. On his other point about being unable to test at all including with young drivers, well who can disagree with that? F1 can exist without Ferrari but why does anyone want it to? Too much F1 heritage is under threat to risk loosing a massive cog in F1s history.

[LewEngBridewell]

i actually agree that without Ferrari it wouldn't be the same, same goes for McLaren i reckon. However do hope they quit and start up a break away series

Talks of a breakaway series have only ever been mindless bibble-babble when the teams are feeling a little disgruntled. There has never been a realistic chance of a breakaway and never will be.

[myownalias]

Luca di Montezemolo has been flapping his lips to the press about how Ferrari will quit F1 should the governing body not bend to their will in the future. The Ferrari chairman said “Formula 1 is still our life, but without Ferrari there is no Formula 1, just as without Formula 1 Ferrari would be different” – di Montezemolo’s arrogance is astonishing, Ferrari is not bigger than Formula 1!

I do agree with di Montezemolo to a certain extent, I do believe that Formula 1 has become overly reliant on aero and the testing ban seems very counter productive, given Red Bull’s dominance, the lack of testing has meant that other teams can not truly catch up as they have to bring development parts to free practice at each race weekend to evaluate the new parts! However I do not agree with third cars, even if loaned out to lesser teams, it’s just another way of gathering data to improve their own cars. Lesser teams need to develop their own cars at their own pace, it can be done, just look at Red Bull; world champions in only their sixth season in Formula 1!

But I call bullpoo on his argument about how current F1 technology doesn’t translate to their road cars; Ferrari have plenty of money to develop their road cars outside of Formula 1, the sport is a publicity machine for Ferrari, if they are not winning then that publicity machine isn’t as effective resource as it could be. If Ferrari are so concerned about development of the road cars; pull out of F1 and pump the money into their road car development program instead, simple!?!?

The core of my annoyance is di Montezemolo’s consistent threats to quit F1 if the rules are not altered for Ferrari’s benefit, what’s more frustrating is the FIA’s lack of backbone, consistently bending to Ferrari’s wishes, Bernie Ecclestone’s FOM is no better. I think that the FIA and FOM should call LDM’s bluff, no manufacturer should be allowed to hold the sport to random!

My blog entry from yesterday is above! I do agree with some of what LDM says but the threats to quit F1 every six to nine months is tedious, LDM needs to grow up and stop using the Ferrari name as his own personal bargaining chip, as acosmichippo points out, if F1 no longer suits their needs, leave without trying to blackmail the powers that be, F1 will be different but it'll survive.

[LewEngBridewell]

Good blog MOA, agree with you on all counts. I cannot stand Ferrari's whining when the FIA don't give them constant attention and back-scratching. This shameful, unsporting behaviour really makes me dislike them. I dislike Ferrari for a whole host of reasons, but this is one of the main ones.

I hope everyone just ignores this latest fit, and then Ferrari will be left to quietly put their own toys back in their own pram, and maybe focus on making a good car.

BTW you might want to amend this sentence:

...just look at Red Bull; world champions in only their sixth season in Formula 1!

It's their seventh season... they've been active as Red Bull from 2005.

[acosmichippo]

but they were champions last year, which was their sixth season.

[LewEngBridewell]

but they were champions last year, which was their sixth season.

Good point. My bad. Apologies myownalias!

[andrew]

"What is not so good is that 90% of performance is now based exclusively on aerodynamics and another negative is that ours is the only sport where no testing is allowed. We are building cars, not helicopters, rockets or planes. Sure, we must not go back to the excesses of a few years ago, but neither should we be in a position where we can't provide opportunities for the youngsters we are bringing on in the Ferrari Driver Academy."

Everyone is bitching, but Monty actually raises (or is that re-emphasises?) an extremely valid point here...

True but sadly most so-called F1 fans like to jump on the ever popular Ferrari bashing bandwagon. LDM could state a blatant fact like the earth is round and some F1 fans would still say he is speaking rubbish!

[myownalias]

True but sadly most so-called F1 fans like to jump on the ever popular Ferrari bashing bandwagon. LDM could state a blatant fact like the earth is round and some F1 fans would still say he is speaking rubbish!

It's not what LDM says, he has some valid points, as mentioned by a few above, including myself but threatening/intimating that Ferrari would leave the sport every six to nine months is what gets everyone's backs up, he can make his point without threatening to pull Ferrari out of the sport unless they get their way, it's verging on childish, as it was put to me on Facebook, LDM is taking the ball home because others don't want to play by his rules.

[andrew]

True but sadly most so-called F1 fans like to jump on the ever popular Ferrari bashing bandwagon. LDM could state a blatant fact like the earth is round and some F1 fans would still say he is speaking rubbish!

It's not what LDM says, he has some valid points, as mentioned by a few above, including myself but threatening/intimating that Ferrari would leave the sport every six to nine months is what gets everyone's backs up, he can make his point without threatening to pull Ferrari out of the sport unless they get their way, it's verging on childish, as it was put to me on Facebook, LDM is taking the ball home because others don't want to play by his rules.

True, threatening to chuck the toys out the pram isn't going to help their case and the threat becomes increasingly weak each time it is issued. However, there are some who write off anything he says immediately without reading and/or understanding what he says.

[Hammer278]

"What is not so good is that 90% of performance is now based exclusively on aerodynamics and another negative is that ours is the only sport where no testing is allowed. We are building cars, not helicopters, rockets or planes. Sure, we must not go back to the excesses of a few years ago, but neither should we be in a position where we can't provide opportunities for the youngsters we are bringing on in the Ferrari Driver Academy."

Everyone is bitching, but Monty actually raises (or is that re-emphasises?) an extremely valid point here...

True but sadly most so-called F1 fans like to jump on the ever popular Ferrari bashing bandwagon. LDM could state a blatant fact like the earth is round and some F1 fans would still say he is speaking rubbish!

No one in this thread is saying Monty doesn't have valid points. Are you able to read? Or simply posting for the sake of it?

The issue is his stupid threats of Ferrari leaving, the guy doesn't seem to realize that first of all, his threats have become too old, and more importantly....nobody cares if he makes good on the threat.

[bud]

"What is not so good is that 90% of performance is now based exclusively on aerodynamics and another negative is that ours is the only sport where no testing is allowed. We are building cars, not helicopters, rockets or planes. Sure, we must not go back to the excesses of a few years ago, but neither should we be in a position where we can't provide opportunities for the youngsters we are bringing on in the Ferrari Driver Academy."

Everyone is bitching, but Monty actually raises (or is that re-emphasises?) an extremely valid point here...

We are bitching because would we be hearing this if Ferrari were in Redbulls position? No didn't think so.
LDM is whinging under the false pretenses of caring about the state of F1 when infact his only concern is about Ferrari not winning.

I mean hey if he can't hack Ferrari getting out aero-fied by a drinks company as it looks bad for car sales then by al means leave with your tail between your legs. I will not care.

[scotty]

"What is not so good is that 90% of performance is now based exclusively on aerodynamics and another negative is that ours is the only sport where no testing is allowed. We are building cars, not helicopters, rockets or planes. Sure, we must not go back to the excesses of a few years ago, but neither should we be in a position where we can't provide opportunities for the youngsters we are bringing on in the Ferrari Driver Academy."

Everyone is bitching, but Monty actually raises (or is that re-emphasises?) an extremely valid point here...

We are bitching because would we be hearing this if Ferrari were in Redbulls position? No didn't think so.
LDM is whinging under the false pretenses of caring about the state of F1 when infact his only concern is about Ferrari not winning.

I mean hey if he can't hack Ferrari getting out aero-fied by a drinks company as it looks bad for car sales then by al means leave with your tail between your legs. I will not care.

That is an assumption really, but regardless, i still think that particular point is worth heeding, even if we've heard the rest from Monty several times now.

[bud]

Well I'm more than confident if Ferrari had just wrapped up the titles like Redbull we wouldn't hear LDM asking for change which would take away their advantage.