Heikki Kovalainen

MiniMarshmallow · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject: Ferrari Threaten To Quit

Quote:

“Maranello 12 May 2009 - Ferrari’s Board of Directors, chaired by Luca di Montezemolo, today analysed the first quarter results for 2009. Despite the current international economic climate, which has hit the automotive sector in particular, Ferrari’s figures were in line with the record levels reached in 2008. Turnover for the first three months was 441 million euro compared to 455.7 million euro over the same period in 2008. The first quarter closed with a trading profit of 54 million euro compared to last year’s 59 million euro.

“These results reflect the introduction of new models, in particular the success of the Ferrari California and the Scuderia Spider 16M, the constant growth in activities linked to the brand (e-commerce, licensing, merchandising and retail) and the company’s continuing efforts to maximise efficiency.

“The Board of Directors also examined developments related to recent decisions taken by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile during an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 29 April 2009. Although this meeting was originally called only to examine a disciplinary matter, the decisions taken mean that, for the first time ever in Formula One, the 2010 season will see the introduction of two different sets of regulations based on arbitrary technical rules and economic parameters.

“The Board considers that if this is the regulatory framework for Formula One in the future, then the reasons underlying Ferrari’s uninterrupted participation in the World Championship over the last 60 years - the only constructor to have taken part ever since its inception in 1950 - would come to a close.

“The Board also expressed its disappointment about the methods adopted by the FIA in taking decisions of such a serious nature and its refusal to effectively reach an understanding with constructors and teams. The rules of governance that have contributed to the development of Formula One over the last 25 years have been disregarded, as have the binding contractual obligations between Ferrari and the FIA itself regarding the stability of the regulations. The same rules for all teams, stability of regulations, the continuity of the FOTA’s endeavours to methodically and progressively reduce costs, and governance of Formula One are the priorities for the future. If these indispensable principles are not respected and if the regulations adopted for 2010 will not change, then Ferrari does not intend to enter its cars in the next Formula One World Championship.

“Ferrari trusts that its many fans worldwide will understand that this difficult decision is coherent with the Scuderia’s approach to motor sport and to Formula One in particular, always seeking to promote its sporting and technical values. The Chairman of the Board of Directors was mandated to evaluate the most suitable ways and methods to protect the company’s interests.”

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/5/9348.html

I say let them!
Who cares.

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Mini: 'How dare you go out when Monaco is on?!'
Ash: 'I need a car...'
Mini: 'Yeah, well, so does Hamilton Smile

'

Lady · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject:

no way they will pull out, I'd bet money on it ))))

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MiniMarshmallow · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

Probably because the FIA won't go ahead with the budget cap.

_________________
Mini: 'How dare you go out when Monaco is on?!'
Ash: 'I need a car...'
Mini: 'Yeah, well, so does Hamilton Smile

'

LogicPro · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 7:18 am Post subject:

I think the FIA will reconsider the rules...but if things don't change, I hope that the teams will organize a new championship.

Red Bull, Toyota and Renault are alredy in agreement with Ferrari.
McLaren and BMW will soon make their choice.

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"Ayrton Senna was an extraordinary racing driver. His skills, craft, subtlety and courage were of such magnitude that he dwarfed his generation of drivers."
Ron Dennis

zebralea · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 7:28 am Post subject:

i think that they are just doing this to make the FIA back down - Ferrari willnt go through with this, Ferrari is known worldwide and as much as i dont like the team they can or will not leave

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I NEED AN OTHER GP - I MISS BEING AT THE TRACK TOO MUCH - SILVERSTONE - GREAT BDAY PREZZIE TO MYSELF - BUT BUDAPEST - WOOOOW FREE TRIP & LEWIS WINNING WHAT MORE COULD I ASK FOR?! LOL

ellen777 · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

i think ferrari have a point though
2 sets of rules will seem a bit bizzare to some people

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YAY FOR FORMULA 1!!!

L_Into · went to Grand Prix Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 162

Ferrari DEFINITELY got a point. It´s nice that Max wants new teams to come and the budget cut could be helpful in this meaning, BUT those 2 sets of rules are absolutely unfair against big teams like Ferrari, Toyota or Red Bull. FIA tries to force them to cut their budgets almost in a month on one tenth! Teams are not against cuts, but against the way FIA behaves.

And personally, I think F1 without Ferrari wont be F1 anymore. Ferrari is the oldest team, it´s a kind of living legend and it´s reasonable they are fighting against this stupidity. I´m pretty courious about the verdict..

Harry1986 · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:47 am Post subject:

ferrari wont ever leave i think, but it would be such a loss to the sport. it would seriously decrease the credibility of the championship title.

still, the budget cap is a good idea but its just been done wrong because max and bernie are idiots.

if they just had a budget cap that was universal not optional and didnt have the technical help and stuff then each season the teams would have to spend carefully; basically this would mean that instead of the teams trying to make the most money to spend on their car they would be working towards making the most cost effective developments and the most innovative designs to stay within the cap.

in my opinion this wouldnt water down F1 at all because youd still have all the technical innovations and high level of competition. its just that the focus would be changed slightly. instead of "spend the most" to develop and test the car it would be ingenuity and new ideas which would drive the team forward. more money and more expensive stuff doesnt necessarily equate to good racing.

the team with the best ideas and groundbreaking strategies would come out on top instead of the team which can afford to test every single possibility because they have ten wind tunnels and a mountain of gold and enough staff to populate greater manchester.

basically what i mean is that it would bring F1 closer to its roots which is fast cars and even faster thinking.

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We will not quit

LogicPro · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 11:05 am Post subject:

I agree with Harry.

By the way, today in Paris, Ferrari's appeal was rejected...
so Mosley now seems to have an advantage over the teams...but I think Bernie will intervein in favour of Ferrari...

_________________
"Ayrton Senna was an extraordinary racing driver. His skills, craft, subtlety and courage were of such magnitude that he dwarfed his generation of drivers."
Ron Dennis

ellen777 · Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject:

if they wanted to introduce the cap without the whole thing about technical freedom, then it might work...but in its current state, its ridiculous

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YAY FOR FORMULA 1!!!