The Ferrari board confirmed today it will pull its team out of F1 if the FIA does not back down on its controversial plans for the 2010 rules. Toyota and Red Bull/Toro Rosso have already voiced the same objections and several F1 news sites are indicating that Mercedes, Renault and BMW are prepared to do … Continue reading The FIA must not let its row with Ferrari become a split that would destroy F1
Luca di Montezemolo articles archive
KERS and the argument over costs
Posted onBernie Ecclestone has changed his approach in his ongoing row with the Formula 1 Teams’ Assoication over the distribution of money in F1. When Ferrari and FOTA boss Luca di Montezemolo first pressed Ecclestone to incresae the share of money the teams received, Ecclestone’s response was to try to embarrass Montezemolo by publicly reminding him … Continue reading KERS and the argument over costs
F60: another name change for Ferrari
Posted onFerrari’s new 2009 F1 car launched yesterday may mark another change in the team’s somewhat esoteric approach to naming its cars. Here’s a brief guide to how Ferrari have named their F1 cars from 1950 to 2009.
The state of Formula 1 in 2008
Posted onThe 2008 Formula 1 season ended on a high on the track – but the shock withdrawal of Honda was a sting in the tail. With 2009 almost upon us it’s time to take stock of F1’s position as one season ends and a new year begins: the quality of the competition, the future of … Continue reading The state of Formula 1 in 2008
Do Ferrari deserve more money? (Poll)
Posted onBernie Ecclestone hit back at FOTA and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo this week by reminding him that Ferrari gets more money from F1 than the other teams do. Is this fair?
Ecclestone’s response to Montezemolo is an attempt to break FOTA’s unity
2009 F1 season
Posted onEcclestone called the Ferrari president a "press officer" When Bernie Ecclestone has something to say, he calls the The Times: Ferrari get so much more money than everyone else. They know exactly what they get, they are not that stupid, although they are not that bright, either. They get about $80 million (about £54 million) … Continue reading Ecclestone’s response to Montezemolo is an attempt to break FOTA’s unity
FOTA wants more money for F1 teams – it should get some for circuits too
Posted onHaving taken on Max Mosley over F1 cost cutting – and come out with some positive changes for the sport – the Formula One Teams’ Association is now aiming to get a bigger share of F1’s revenue. FOTA president Luca di Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport: I’ve known Ecclestone since 1973, and I think he’s … Continue reading FOTA wants more money for F1 teams – it should get some for circuits too
Ferrari and Toyota threaten to quit F1 if Max Mosley forces standard engines
Posted onFerrari, F1’s oldest team, has threatened to quit over standard engines First Toyota, now Ferrari is threatening to pull its F1 team if Max Mosley persists with his plan to make all F1 teams use the same engine: The Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that … Continue reading Ferrari and Toyota threaten to quit F1 if Max Mosley forces standard engines
Bernie Ecclestone mocks Ferrari ‘clowns’
Posted onBernie Ecclestone has hit back at Luca Montezemolo’s criticism of the Singapore Grand Prix as a "circus". Is this just a bit of tit-for-tat between two of the most powerful men in F1, or signs of a deeper tension?
Luca di Montezemolo is right: F1’s safety car rules are humiliating for the sport
Posted onFerrari’s Luca di Montezemolo was not impressed by the role the safety car had to play in Singapore: When we race on tracks where staging a circus or something else would be better, anything can happen, because the spectacle is supplied by the Safety Car. This is humiliating for F1. Montezemolo may be sore about … Continue reading Luca di Montezemolo is right: F1’s safety car rules are humiliating for the sport
Why have the teams formed their own group and what does it mean for F1?
Posted onFormula 1’s ten teams have formed a new group to represent their interests in the sport following a meeting at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. It looks like another move in the power games that have been going on between the sport’s regulators (the FIA), the commercial rights holders (FOM) and the teams, which intensified during the … Continue reading Why have the teams formed their own group and what does it mean for F1?
Fernando Alonso and Ferrari rumours
Posted onSpeculation that Fernando Alonso could be a Ferrari driver in the future refuses to go away. Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo said in April he was happy with the line-up of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. But now Alonso is being linked with a move to Ferrari where he would be reunited with sponsor Banco … Continue reading Fernando Alonso and Ferrari rumours
Inevitable Max Mosley post #11
Posted onI wanted to ignore the inevitable Max Mosley stuff over the Spanish Grand Prix weekend and concentrate on the racing (at least, what little there was that passed for racing). Pressure continues to grow on the FIA president to quit with sporting bodies shunning him and the teams considering making an official statement criticising him, … Continue reading Inevitable Max Mosley post #11
New year’s resolutions for F1 drivers
Posted onHaving made my usual new year’s resolutions (about drinking less coffee and spending less time on writing F1 Fanatic) I dreamt up a few resolutions I’d like F1 drivers and other figures to take. Here are 20 resolutions I thought up – suggest some of your own in the comments box below…
F1 news review: Mosley backs Raikkonen
Posted onMax Mosley gave a revealing interview to The Guardian this week in which he said he was glad to see Kimi Raikkonen win the world championship following the spy scandal between McLaren and Ferrari. Plus the sports writers look back on 2007, Ralf Schumacher dumps his manager and Alexander Wurz looks to a career in … Continue reading F1 news review: Mosley backs Raikkonen
Montezemolo & Theissen disagree on McLaren’s exclusion
Posted onMcLaren’s exclusion from the constructors’ championship was a just punishment according to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo – but BMW team principal Mario Theissen doesn’t think his team really were second in 2007. McLaren could have been world champions this year had they not had all their points confiscated after being found guilty of bringing … Continue reading Montezemolo & Theissen disagree on McLaren’s exclusion
F1 07 review: Ferrari
Posted onOn the face of it, 2007 was a golden season for Ferrari. Nine wins and both championships went to the team even though many expected them to struggle following the departure of Michael Schumacher. But their triumph was not as emphatic as the raw figures suggest. The constructors’ championship was an inevitability after the expulsion … Continue reading F1 07 review: Ferrari
“Formula One 1975: Lauda and Ferrari No. 1” (DVD)
Posted onThe sixth DVD in the Brunswick films collection tells the story of the odd 1975 season. Niki Lauda triumphed in a year that saw a spate of wet races and two events cut to half distance. As ever the DVD is rich with fascinating material and the only problem is that there isn’t more of … Continue reading “Formula One 1975: Lauda and Ferrari No. 1” (DVD)
F1 in the blogs 44: PETA vs Ralf Schumacher
Posted onRalf Schumacher is being mocked once again – this time by animal rights activists… Plus BMW in good shape for 2008, problems for Prodrive, and vote for F1Fanatic.co.uk in the 2007 Weblog Awards.
The questions that remain over the espionage scandal (2/2)
Posted onWhat will the consequences of the espionage verdict be for Ferrari, the team whose information was stolen? And perhaps most importantly of all, where does the sport go from here? Further thoughts on the state of play following the spy scandal hearing.