In a recent interview with Wall Street Journal in Maranello, Italy, Luca di Montezemolo has threatened to withdraw his team out of Formula One and may switch over to other sports car competitions such as Le Mans 24 Hours and Endurance racing. Scuderia Ferrari has longstanding differences with F1 governing body. The FIA was blamed for putting aside the fact that spectators watch the races for excitement and not for the fact that the races and race cars are super efficient.
The new FIA regulations push for more environmentally friendly vehicles and ways and means to reduce costs with a new, quite and less polluting turbo hybrid V6 engine. This introduction will muffle the basic element and sense of excitement of the Grand Prix which is the roar of the engine.
Luca di Montezemolo cited that viewers were least concerned with saving of fuel and energy and were keener on the stimulation and enthusiasm that the sport brings. When asked that if there is a possibility to continue racing in F1, and also in other competition, Luca di Montezemolo said that it was not possible to do sport car racing and F1 together.
But this was later denied by the company as they revealed an official statement as follows:
“Some elements of the media have suggested Ferrari would quit Formula One to concentrate on the Le Mans 24 Hours and Endurance racing. This is a bit of a stretch based on President Luca di Montezemolo reiterating that Formula One needs to evolve and renew itself, while also admitting that there is a unique attraction to the 24 Hour race. To say that after 2020, Ferrari could quit Formula One to concentrate on Le Mans and the Endurance championship takes his words to extremes. Plus of course, there’s nothing to stop Ferrari upping the ante and competing in both disciplines. So it’s just pure speculation.”
