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Marchionne reiterates "serious" Ferrari quit threats

Published on 03 Dec 2017 14:12
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By: Fergal Walsh

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne has once again stated that Ferrari could leave the sport over the future engine regulations. When manufacturers were presented with the proposed new rules for 2021, Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault expressed their disappointment.

However, Ferrari went as far as threatening to leave the sport for good if it felt that Formula 1 was not heading in the right direction. Speaking at the presentation of the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team, Marchionne brought back his previous statements.

Marchionne's main problem with the future regulations is standardised parts and a drop in the cost of the power units. He would pull F1's most famous and successful team out of the sport rather than "play NASCAR globally".

"The dialogue has started and will continue to evolve," Marchionne said. "We have time until 2020 to find a solution which benefits Ferrari. The threat of Ferrari leaving Formula 1 is serious. The agreement with Sauber expires in 2020-2021, right when Ferrari could leave. We have to find a solution which is good for the sport but we also have to be clear on the things we can't back down on."

FatMike

Posts: 153

Another example of Ferrari putting itself above the sport. These type of extortionate claims should be dealt with swiftly.

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Dec 3 2017 - 14:54

F1 News Renault Mercedes Ferrari Sauber

Replies (8)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Nobody want too many standardised parts. Mind, a standardised MGU-H could be an option if we want it to stay, but I dont think its feasible even then if the current costs are maintained.
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- Dec 3 2017 - 14:19
f1fan0101

Posts: 1,804
It would actually be a huge shame if they did leave
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- Dec 3 2017 - 14:24
FatMike

Posts: 153
Another example of Ferrari putting itself above the sport. These type of extortionate claims should be dealt with swiftly.
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- Dec 3 2017 - 14:54
- mclarenfan1968
  
  Posts: 1,027
  Err yeah good luck with that! You may not like Ferrari, most don't, I don't. However don't delude yourself. Ferrari is F1. F1 needs Ferrari more than Ferrari needs F1 this is something that has been an open secret ffrom the time of F1's earliest days of success as a sport.
  
  Butthurt kiddies world over will need to just deal with it.
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  Dec 4 2017 - 15:11
Carman

Posts: 11
Getting really fed up of Ferrari's constant whining, with their threat quits and veto powers, they are probably worried now that they haven't got Bernie there any more to 'look after them'. I really wish they do quit, yes it would be bad for F1 in the short term but F1 would get over it in time. In the short and long run it would be really bad for Ferrari though.
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- Dec 3 2017 - 15:53
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  I think it would be horrible for F1, both short term and especially long term. If Ferrari were to join a new series, it could very well be the end of F1. Just look at DTM, and no manufacturer ever meant as much to DTM as Ferrari does to F1.
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  Dec 3 2017 - 20:21
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Like MBMW, Im not as confident in that F1 would recover. Ferrari is F1, and F1 is Ferrari at this stage. They are a closer couple than Ornstein and Smough, or J.D and Turk. Many people watch to see Ferrari specificially. And I sorta agree with Ferrari on one bit of this subject. Do we want standardized power units? I dont. Ideally, I want equally good units but with different properties, but most of all, this is also in part an engineer's sport. This is a sport cars get new tech from even now. Remove that, and you remove one of the things many of us like.
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  Dec 4 2017 - 07:53
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Liberty is just trying to get the ball rolling. Severe changes need to be made for the show to change. That being said, Ferrari is an F1 team that happens to make cars. Not the other way around. Ferrari irreplaceable in Formula 1 to an extent, but I can tell you if we lost Ferrari but gained Lamborghini, Porsche, and Aston Martin, I don't think they would be missed too dearly. Particularly if the racing is good. I call Sergio's bluff. Specially after the additional investment with Alfa Romeo... He sort of called his own bluff
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- Dec 4 2017 - 19:55