Long-time Formula CEO Bernie Ecclestone believes Ferrari's threat to quit the sport after 2020 should be taken more seriously due to the interests of Chairman Sergio Marchionne.
The future of the most famous team on the grid is less certain with the warning issued following the revealing of proposals for changes to the engine in 2021, changes Marchionne claims go against the DNA of F1.
Given the Scuderia's history of such threats, some are brushing it off as mere talk, however, Ecclestone isn't so sure due to the different views of the current Chairman compared to predecessor Luca di Montezemolo.
"Motorsport was Luca’s life," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "Sergio can live without F1, he is only interested in the business.
"The most important thing for him is that he can offer the shareholders a good business result and if Marchionne does not like the path F1 takes, then he will stop."
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Another argument used against Ferrari leaving is that doing so would significantly hurt the brand that the Maranello-based company has built up thanks to their success and history in F1.
"I’m afraid Ferrari could live without F1," Ecclestone responded, "not the other way around."
