Unravelling Ferrari's tirade against the FIA
It's amazing to think that just eight months ago we were all relieved that the bitter war between teams and the FIA was over. Ferrari - the most successful team in the history of Formula 1 - had threatened to quit, with all other teams bar Williams and Force India looking to set up their own series.
Fast forward eight months and once again it is Ferrari that is leading in the campaign, albeit through a statement on their website, against favouring smaller, less stable teams, over those who can, effectively, buy their way out of troubles.
Ferrari's problem is clear: they have an issue with newer teams turning up, with limited budgets, making alot of noise and then falling at the last hurdle. It's not for reasons of empathy, far from in fact, but Ferrari have always succeeded via the means they know best - through investing millions.
If these tiny 'minnows' can become successful, or at least established, within Formula 1, at a fraction of the cost that the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Renault have spent in the past, it is not going to go down well. And the issue runs deeper.
Ferrari believe that the reason so many manufacturers, like BMW, Honda and Toyota, have pulled out of F1 is because the FIA have chosen to put more emphasis on helping smaller teams. When these teams falter, Ferrari look at it as a kick in the teeth, a reminder of how they got onto the entry list in the first place.
Remember Ferrari are very much one of these manufacturers, and are using F1 solely as a marketing strategy for their road division. However given their heritage, rather than follow the sport’s most recent departures, they are fighting for change.
It's no secret that Campos and USF1, the only two teams yet to unveil their car or announce preseason plans, have problems. Campos have received outside investment, from what Ferrari describe as a 'munificent white knight, well used to this sort of last minute rescue deal'.
They have a point. An image where teams are struggling to finance a graduation to Formula 1 is far from ideal. It links back to the issue we had in June, in which the FIA's cost-cutting measures became so radical that teams began to break away.
USF1's problems don't end with money. Rumours suggest they are lacking now in resources, and from what little we've heard about the car, figures are allegedly worrying. At least Campos have Dallara, with some experience and a strong workforce. USF1 are building entirely from scratch, with minimal outside investment.
Ferrari also attacked F1 hopefuls Stefan GP, calling them 'Serbian vultures', and saying the team - run by businessman Zoran Stefanovic - "picked the bones of Toyota on its deathbed". This simply highlights the fact that the Italian squad are bitter about the downturn in economic viability that lead to - what they see as the inevitable - the manufacturers' withdrawal.
The statement is reminiscent of one they made in light of Toyota quitting Formula 1 in November, in which the Italian team said we must "wait and see just how many [of the new teams] will be there on the grid for the first race."
Ferrari have always been sceptical of the way Formula 1 has been heading in terms of its entry list, and it is very unlikely that this is the last we'll hear on the matter.
Until the team can no longer feel as though they are at a loss, in favour of the 'Serbian vultures', the team "being pushed into the ring by an invisible hand", and the squad that would have to be located on a 'missing persons list', Ferrari will try to lead other teams into combating the issues the FIA have targeted to help 'make up the numbers'.
www.rossmessinger.co.uk
Image source: itv.com/f1
It's amazing to think that just eight months ago we were all relieved that the bitter war between teams and the FIA was over. Ferrari - the most successful team in the history of Formula 1 - had threatened to quit, with all other teams bar Williams and Force India looking to set up their own series.
Fast forward eight months and once again it is Ferrari that is leading in the campaign, albeit through a statement on their website, against favouring smaller, less stable teams, over those who can, effectively, buy their way out of troubles.
Ferrari's problem is clear: they have an issue with newer teams turning up, with limited budgets, making alot of noise and then falling at the last hurdle. It's not for reasons of empathy, far from in fact, but Ferrari have always succeeded via the means they know best - through investing millions.
If these tiny 'minnows' can become successful, or at least established, within Formula 1, at a fraction of the cost that the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Renault have spent in the past, it is not going to go down well. And the issue runs deeper.
Ferrari believe that the reason so many manufacturers, like BMW, Honda and Toyota, have pulled out of F1 is because the FIA have chosen to put more emphasis on helping smaller teams. When these teams falter, Ferrari look at it as a kick in the teeth, a reminder of how they got onto the entry list in the first place.
Remember Ferrari are very much one of these manufacturers, and are using F1 solely as a marketing strategy for their road division. However given their heritage, rather than follow the sport’s most recent departures, they are fighting for change.
It's no secret that Campos and USF1, the only two teams yet to unveil their car or announce preseason plans, have problems. Campos have received outside investment, from what Ferrari describe as a 'munificent white knight, well used to this sort of last minute rescue deal'.
They have a point. An image where teams are struggling to finance a graduation to Formula 1 is far from ideal. It links back to the issue we had in June, in which the FIA's cost-cutting measures became so radical that teams began to break away.
USF1's problems don't end with money. Rumours suggest they are lacking now in resources, and from what little we've heard about the car, figures are allegedly worrying. At least Campos have Dallara, with some experience and a strong workforce. USF1 are building entirely from scratch, with minimal outside investment.
Ferrari also attacked F1 hopefuls Stefan GP, calling them 'Serbian vultures', and saying the team - run by businessman Zoran Stefanovic - "picked the bones of Toyota on its deathbed". This simply highlights the fact that the Italian squad are bitter about the downturn in economic viability that lead to - what they see as the inevitable - the manufacturers' withdrawal.
The statement is reminiscent of one they made in light of Toyota quitting Formula 1 in November, in which the Italian team said we must "wait and see just how many [of the new teams] will be there on the grid for the first race."
Ferrari have always been sceptical of the way Formula 1 has been heading in terms of its entry list, and it is very unlikely that this is the last we'll hear on the matter.
Until the team can no longer feel as though they are at a loss, in favour of the 'Serbian vultures', the team "being pushed into the ring by an invisible hand", and the squad that would have to be located on a 'missing persons list', Ferrari will try to lead other teams into combating the issues the FIA have targeted to help 'make up the numbers'.
www.rossmessinger.co.uk
Image source: itv.com/f1
