FIA president Jean Todt is increasingly sure Ferrari will not follow through on their threat to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2020.
Concerns over the future direction taking by Liberty Media both from a sporting and financial aspect led chairman Sergio Marchionne to do what his successor Luca di Montezemolo had done and put the future of the sport’s most famous team into question.
However, with talks ongoing over striking a deal on 2021 regulations that suit all, Todt, himself a former team boss at the Scuderia, believes that prospect is easing.
“Ferrari is an iconic brand,” the Frenchman was quoted by PlanetF1. “There are several reasons for that, and one of them is that the sport is very important for them. Ferrari profits from racing and racing profits from them.
“I’m convinced that if we set up a good format, they will continue to be interested.”
The main aim of CEO Chase Carey, motorsport boss Ross Brawn and others, however, is to dramatically shift the balance of power in F1 and ensuring the structure is beneficial for all competitors.
“We have to do something that’s good for ten teams, not just one,” he insisted.
“More than half of the teams are in difficulty, and that’s not good for the premier discipline of motorsport. That’s why we have to do something about the discrepancy between the teams.”
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In addition, there is also the interests of other manufacturers to consider with Mercedes and Renault having fingers in many pies across the motorsport spectrum.
Last week, managing director at the latter, Cyril Abiteboul, criticised the direction the sport has taken in the last decade or so describing the changes in the same terms as Ferrari has.
“We can’t just mix it all up,” the Frenchman told Speed Week. “The life of the engine, the durability of tyres, the amount of fuel, this is for me no part of the F1 DNA.
“Le Mans was always about reliability, but Grand Prix racing should always be sprint racing from the lights to the flag.
“In my view, F1 must be clear about what it represents for the fans,” he added. “With hybrid technology, we have breathed a modern wind but I do not understand what the real message is.
“We have a very good saying that to me applies in F1 — you should never fix something that is not broken.”
