Ferrari Won’t Budge In F1 Budget Row

Ferrari is refusing to back down in the ongoing F1 budget row and have reiterated their threat to leave the sport and set up a breakaway series.

Over the weekend, Europe’s carmakers backed F1’s teams in the row with the sport’s governing body the FIA over rules and funding for 2010.

Commented Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo: ‘Either we race in an F1 with the characteristics we want to maintain or there will be an alternative. Definitely this situation will be resolved one way or the other.’

Ferrari have been included on the list of entrants for the 2010 season against the Italian team’s wishes over its opposition to the FIA’s intended changes to the sport next season, notably the idea of a voluntary £40m budget cap.

‘We want stability, clear rules, a clear and transparent system of governance and the possibility to let teams work to cut costs like they’ve already shown,’ added Montezemolo.

‘I really hope we manage to find a solution. I’m sure there are responsible people inside the FIA who understand the situation.’

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s (ACEA) threat of a breakaway series has been seen as an attack on FIA president Max Mosley.

The 69-year-old is expected to confirm later this month he will stand for re-election for what would be a fifth term in office, although his leadership has been questioned over his bitter battle with the F1 Teams Association (FOTA) over next season’s regulations.

ACEA’s members include BMW, DAF Trucks, Daimler, Fiat, Ford of Europe, GM Europe, Jaguar Land Rover, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Scania, Toyota Motor Europe, Volvo and Volkswagen.

Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso have also confirmed their loyalty to FOTA, despite the FIA granting them an unconditional entry.

McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP have been given an extra week’s grace to submit their own unconditional entries, otherwise the FIA will return to the pool of potential new entrants.

FOTA’s main complaint concerns Mosley’s governance and the unilateral manner in which he announced the budget cap for next season.

Over the weekend, it sought to bypass Mosley by calling on the World Motor Sport Council and the FIA Senate to intervene in the feud.