Ferrari have officially spoken after the French court denied their injunction on the FIA’s new regulation changes for 2010. It seems Ferrari are still looking for solutions via the FOTA organization to next years drastic regulation changes but the under tow here may be the actual frequent and drastic changes the FIA have always engaged in that keeps the sport off kilter. It is no secret that Ferrari are not enthused about the 2010 regulation changes and the budget cap but the darker side of the issue is that they may be seeking the elimination of the FIA’s authorship of the sports regulations completely. FOTA has spoken of their desire to guide the sport in a systematic method to curtail spending but retain the DNA of F1. Can that be done with Max and Ruby at the helm? Ferrari said:
“While continuing to evaluate whether or not to continue with this legal action already underway, Ferrari confirms its commitment to work within FOTA in conjunction with the FIA and the Commercial Rights Holder to ensure that Formula 1 is a series where the rules are the same for everyone and which benefits from stability in the regulations, while continuing the work of the past few months in moving forward methodically and gradually towards reducing costs,” said a team statement.
“If it is not possible for all parties to reach agreement, then in line with the decision of the Main Board, taken on 12th May, Ferrari will not enter its cars in a competition that, with the planned scenario in place, would see a watering down of the characteristics that have endowed Formula 1 with the status of the most important motor sport series and that have specifically led to the Maranello marque’s uninterrupted participation in the world championship since 1950.
“In this situation, Ferrari will continue to compete in races of a calibre worthy of the marque, matching its level of innovation and technological research.”
“The existence and validity of Ferrari’s right of veto, as sanctioned in a written agreement with the FIA Senate, were recognised by the Court, as was the fact that this dispute is of a contractual nature,” the statement continued.
“Consequently, it was also recognised that the dispute was not a matter for the internal tribunal of the FIA, but rather a matter for normal civil courts. The Court believed that the right of veto should have been exercised during the World Council meetings of 17th March and 29th April. It therefore chose to let the civil law courts rule on the urgency of the matter.
“Such a decision, which is not prejudicial to the outcome of the matter, allows the FIA to impose on those teams entered in the 2010 world championship, regulations that have been drawn up unilaterally without respecting the agreed procedures. In the final analysis, Ferrari has been forced to use its right of veto, in defence of its own interests and those of all the teams participating in the Formula 1 World Championship.”
Ultimately Ferrari have to look to their own interests…shockingly I submit that their interests are very, very similar to all the other teams and very much unlike the FIA or FOM’s. The crux of the political war of Press Releases and words. AS with Max; if words could speak, they’d mean even less.
