Formula One’s most famous personality has spoken out on the Ferrari-FIA stand-off. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has voiced his support for the Italian team, saying that Ferrari are an immensely important part of F1.
“Without Ferrari, F1 would be a second-class series. As for me, I clearly cannot imagine F1 without Ferrari,” Schumacher told DNA via email.
The legendary German driver, who is an advisor to Ferrari, further added that with the budget cap and technique ideas suggested by FIA, F1 would make no sense for the team that has participated in every F1 world championship since 1950.
“It would make a lot of sense, on the contrary, to now quickly start a dialogue and to arrive at a consensus which allows us (Ferrari) to stay,” he added.
It may be recalled that Ferrari have been vehemently opposing FIA’s controversial rules for 2010 that includes the introduction of a £40 million budget cap. In fact, the Ferrari board has expressed its displeasure about the FIA’s decision-taking methods and has decided to pull out of F1 if the new rules are applied for next year.
Meanwhile, in an indirect attack on FIA chief Max Mosley, Ferrari ridiculed the new teams that are likely to avail FIA’s budget cap for next year.
In a statement on their website, Ferrari said that if these teams were to participate, Formula One should be appropriately called Formula GP3.
“Looking at the list, which leaked from Paris (where FIA headquarters are located), you can’t find a very famous name; one of those, one has to spend 400 euros per person for a place on the grandstand at a Grand Prix (plus the expenses for the journey and the stay),”the statement says.
It further adds that teams like Wirth Research, Lola, USF1, Epsilon Euskadi, RML, Formtech, Campos, iSport should be competing in the two-tier Formula 1 wanted by (Max) Mosley.
The statement ends with this question: “Can a World Championship with teams like them — with due respect — have the same value as today’s Formula 1, where Ferrari, the big car manufacturers and teams, who created the history of this sport, compete?”
Meanwhile, a French court has rejected Ferrari’s appeal to prevent FIA from changing rules for the year 2010. The court ruled that Ferrari had failed to use a veto against the new rules at meetings of FIA World Motor Sport Council.
