Ferrari to quit F1 unless they...

[docevi1]

...get more money.

It's a threat, I don't for one second believe that Ferrari would quit F1 while they are so dominant but I'm wondering if they are using their might to fight for the little guys...

www.itv-f1.com said:

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has warned the world champions could quit F1 unless they are given a bigger share of the sport’s revenues. Montezemolo is furious that Bernie Ecclestone still pockets more money from the sport than the rest of the teams combined. The Italian said that, even though shares in F1’s commercial rights have changed hands repeatedly over the past few years, the teams are no closer to receiving any more money. He told autosport.com: "I think that a certain era of F1 is finished. We have to look at something new and it is totally impossible, and unacceptable, that the business has been sold three times in three years and without any advantage for the players. "The teams get only 47 per cent of the television rights, which is less than 50 per cent, and zero from advertising, ticket revenues and hospitality. This is not possible any more and it means unfortunately that someone has gone too far. "I am worried that some teams cannot survive for money reasons. Ferrari is a small company and we have to think very carefully for the future. "It is not possible to survive even for teams like Ferrari with this unacceptable low level of revenues. “We have to try and give the maximum support to change the situation with the other car manufacturers." This is not a new concern – many of the carmakers involved in F1 formed the GPWC, a breakaway championship, several years ago in a bid to force Ecclestone’s hand. But while things have gone quiet in recent months, Montezemolo’s outburst proves that the manufacturers are as determined as ever to get their way. The costs of competing in F1 have risen dramatically even since the formation of the GPWC. Montezemolo believes that Ecclestone must act immediately because teams cannot afford to wait until the current Concorde Agreement expires at the end of 2007. He said: "I think that in life if somebody doesn't think of the future, and only to put money in their pockets today, we take a big risk for the future because I don't think F1 can survive in these conditions. "Thank God at the end of 2007 we have something, but we still have three years in front of us and everything must change. We will see. “Now is the time to try and find a solution and, if not, then everybody starting with Ferrari will think what we will do. The level of the revenue for the teams is unacceptable and ridiculous."

[rich-uk]

Erm, stop spending so much on development and spend the same as the rest of the teams?

[CanAm]

They really are the Man Utd of motor sport!
On the other hand Bernie does take FAR too big a slice of the cake. I thought it was going to be a move towards fair do's for all when old Jean-Marie Balestre retired, but nothing really seems to have changed over the years.

[Hut49]

I suppose I had some idea of the investment that's required to run a McLaren or a Ferrari program in F1. But I was amazed by Ron Dennis' remarks about the opulent environment he's created at Woking that is all in place to support the success of our F1 program.

I suspect coffee-met-keyboard when Ron read that no sooner has McLaren finished its £200 million F1 development centre that Ferrari's threatening to pull-out of F1 (or may be forced out of F1 due to the bankrupt state of FIAT) which would surely spell the end of F1 as we know it.

I guess there will always be motorsport, so maybe McLaren will just have to contend with a 3 car Mercedes SLR entry in the BTCC!

[toppstuff]

I think they are right.

One way of looking at this , is that Bernie's little show has been running for far too long and that if any manufacturer should challenge him , it ought to be the biggest and most successful.

i would be happy to see the little barrow boy chucked out and left to do his own thing in his various mansions around the world.

Maybe then we might get fairer treatment for the middle and lower ranking teams, and more interesting racing.

After all, its Bernies show. And its pretty dull. So change it.

I'm with Luca on this one.

[HarryW]

toppstuff said:

.... I'm with Luca on this one.

[davidd]

I'd agree with this, Ferrari claim they pay for F1 from the sales of road cars and sponsorship, I suspect a lot of that sponsorship comes via Fiat.

Also as Ferrari are so powerful at the moment then no is the time for them to try to make DE see a bit of sense. After all he must have enough cash to last him by now.

D

[dr_evil65]

THATS BECAUSE HE OWNS F1!!

Do you expect to take as much home as a company director? No - because people like us spend all our time writing these comments instead of doing or work!

[Tripps]

dr_evil65 said:

THATS BECAUSE HE OWNS F1!! Do you expect to take as much home as a company director? No - because people like us spend all our time writing these comments instead of doing or work!

It's only the commercial rights he owns I think?

I can spent this much time on PH as I am a company director, mind you my income isn't a fraction of Bernie's £750M a year

[hendry]

I don't think Ferrari is serious. We have heard all this before when they were talking of all throwing in the towel and starting their own series, sans Bernie and wife. As the date they can do this draws nearer, their efforts to form thee series haven't moved on any.

Even if it were true, is Bernie worried anyway? Which team is it that has contributed most to the monotony of current Formula 1? With Ferrari gone the playing field would level out again. I would guess Bernie's logic would have him believing that the removal of the dominant force would encourage other entrants into the sport again - companies that won't come in today when the best possible PR is losing to Ferrari every other weekend.

[mikee boy]

Bernie was certainly astute to get hold of the rights in the first place, but he does seem to alienate many of the team bosses. I'm surprised he gets away with so much of the money, but it also seem a bit rich when the Champions moan about how much it costs.

I don't understand all the politics because I don't earn £750 squillion a year or have my own racing team. Formula 1 may well get defeated by greed.

Formula 1 is now boring. The Goodwood revival had closer, more interesting racing. There is more fun to be had watching the Touring Cars tearing into eachother or any club racing events. Jaguar/Ford's withdrawal demonstrates how small the percieved benefits are.

[Andrew Noakes]

Luca di Montezemolo reportedly said:

The teams get only 47 per cent of the television rights, which is less than 50 per cent

I didn't get where I am today by not knowing that 47 per cent was less than 50 per cent...