MILAN, (Reuters) – Ferrari will race in other series if they quit Formula One at the end of the year and the fans will follow them, president Luca di Montezemolo said yesterday.
The Italian team, the sport’s oldest and most successful, said on Tuesday they would not enter the 2010 championship unless plans to introduce a budget cap are abandoned. Toyota, the two Red Bull teams and Renault have made similar threats given that the plans would allow capped teams to operate with far greater technical freedom than those continuing with unlimited budgets.
“If it really was like that, then I have to say that our cars will race in other competitions, where — and I am absolutely convinced about that — they will find the enthusiasm and the passion of millions of fans,” Montezemolo told the Ferrari website (www.ferrari.com).
“Racing is part of Ferrari’s DNA and this is something that will never change.”
Media reports have speculated that the Formula One champions might set up a rival series, compete in the United States, or enter cars in the Le Mans 24 hour race.
Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen said it would be a big blow not to have Ferrari in Formula One but they understood the reasons why.
“Since I was a child, Ferrari has been the synonym for racing for me,” said Massa.
“That’s why I’m convinced that even if the Scuderia is forced to leave Formula One, there will be other competitions where it will be possible to admire the Reds on the track.”
“I understand the motivation, why the company got to this point. The idea of having a championship with two velocities, with cars, which for example are allowed to have flexible wings or an engine without a rev limiter, is absurd.”
Raikkonen, who enjoys rallying in his spare time, echoed his Brazilian team mate’s comments.
“It’s difficult to think of a Formula One without Ferrari,” the Finn said. “But I can’t imagine drivers racing each other on the track with cars built according to different rules.
“If that should happen, it would be too bad and I understand that a company like Ferrari is thinking about racing somewhere else.”
The International Automobile Federation (FIA), headed by Max Mosley, wants to introduce an optional 40 million pound ($61 million) budget cap next year to encourage new teams to enter.
Glamour team Ferrari have been in Formula One since the first championship race in 1950 and, with the Monaco Grand Prix, have long been seen as the jewels in the crown. They have been champions eight times in the last 10 years.
Montezemolo is scheduled to meet Mosley, other teams and Formula One’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone tomorrow.
