Ferrari could promote itself without F1

Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne says the Italian manufacturer could easily find other ways to promote itself if it decided to leave Formula 1 in the future.

Having invested heavily in the 1.6-liter hybrid engine formula that was introduced last year, the manufacturers are keen to protect their investments rather than changing the rules. However, Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault – which is returning to running a works team in 2016 after taking over Lotus – are unhappy with the suggestion that Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt should be given more power to make key decisions about F1.

When asked what Ferrari would be without Formula 1, Marchionne said: "Ferrari is likely to find other ways to provide its ability to win and to race. This is so easy.

"That would be a great pity, of course – nobody wants Ferrari out of F1.

"F1 would change [without Ferrari]. It would be something else. Nobody would be interested in Formula 1 without Ferrari, not even Mercedes. We are all there to compete."

Marchionne, who added it would be "highly improbable" that Ferrari would walk away, strongly believes F1's participants should be involved in discussions over major decisions.

"It is something is going to happen can't be debated, we do not agree with this position," said Marchionne. "This is something we are inline with Mercedes and also with Renault.

"We spend a hundreds of millions every year, so these are heavy investments. The issue is trying to come up with power units which are affordable to all teams.

"The teams that are able to develop their own engines are being deprived of the reason why to go on track during every race. We race during every grand prix to improve ourselves, so we should try to improve our cutting edge and this is a different approach to the one which wants to be imposed. If F1 is going to become like NASCAR...well, I'm not interested in that.

"We have a technical advantage from working on the track and so that's why it is so important to us, to use the power units on the track.

"I perfectly understand the problems that other teams may have but this is something FOM [Formua One Management] has to commit to solving."

Originally on Autosport.com