Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne says the marque “will not play” if the post-2020 Formula 1 regulations are not compatible with the operation’s objectives.
New owners Liberty Media have been working with the FIA and Formula 1 teams in recent months to outline the 2021 sporting and technical regulations, with further discussion expected at a meeting on Tuesday.
Among primary goals are a more level financial playing field, and simpler, cheaper and noisier power units, once the current regulatory cycle comes to an end in 2020.
Ferrari has been present in Formula 1 since the championship’s inauguration in 1950, taking 31 titles and 227 wins, but Marchionne says the squad’s presence should not be taken for granted.
“Liberty has got a couple of good intentions with this, one of which is to reduce the cost of execution for the teams, which is good,” Marchionne said during a media conference call.
“There’s a couple of things we don’t necessarily agree with.
“The fact that we now appear to be at odds in terms of the strategic development of this thing, and we see the sport in 2021 taking on a different air, is going to force some decisions on the part of Ferrari.
“I understand that Liberty may have taken these into account in coming up with their views.
“But I think it needs to be absolutely clear that unless we find a set of circumstances, the results of which are beneficial to the maintenance of the brand, and the marketplace, and to the strengthening of the unique position for Ferrari, Ferrari will not play.
“And that’s got a whole lot of implications, apart from the cost relief from the structure of Ferrari, which is not inconsequential.
“But it does open up a whole lot of alternatives about what Ferrari could be doing with itself going forward and beyond that date.
“I don’t want to prejudge any of this, we’re walking into this meeting next Tuesday with the best of intentions, we’ll see where it takes us.”
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