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LOS ANGELES, California - Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo might pull his team out of Formula 1 because it "isn't working" and switch to sports-car competition,
Ferrari has long-standing disputes with F1 governing body the International Automobile Federation and Montezemolo expressed frustration with recent F1 rules changes.
"F1 isn't working," he told Friday's Wall Street Journal during an interview in Maranello, Italy - the team's spiritual home. He complained that the federation had "forgotten that people watch the racing for the excitement. Nobody watches racing for the efficiency".
'SPORT YES, BUT ALSO A SHOW'
New regulations have made the the sport more environmentally friendly and cut costs with a new turbo-hybrid V6 engine which is quieter and burns less fuel but the boss of the most iconic brand in motorsport complained that the restrictions would muffle a key element of the GP - the howl of the howl of the engines.
"People watch racing to b
e entertained," he said. "Nobody wants to watch a driver save petrol and tyres. They want to see them push - it's sport, yes, but also a show."
Montezemolo attacked in particular the rules that forbid advances on engine design during the season, a situation that has left Ferrari third in the standings.
"And we cannot touch the engine?" he asked.
Ferrari is a subsidiary of the Fiat Group of which Montezemolo was chairman from 2004-10. The brand has 15 F1 Drivers' titles and 16 Constructors' championships from 221 GP wins.
It has raced in F1 since its formula's debut in 1950.
It had also participated in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans but from 1973 founder Enzo Ferrari chose to concentrate exclusively on F1.
FOURTH IN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Montezemolo stressed that no decision had been made but indicated that Ferrari could pursue endurance racing as soon as 2020, the Journal reported. "We cannot do sports-car racing and F1," he added.
Since the start of the 2014 season Ferrari has been trailing Mercedes and Red Bull and is even under threat from Force India.
Ferrari is fourth in the Constructors' championship; one of its drivers, Fernando Alonso, is fourth in the Drivers' standings with fewer than half the points of leader Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.
Ferrari has long-standing disputes with F1 governing body the International Automobile Federation and Montezemolo expressed frustration with recent F1 rules changes.
"F1 isn't working," he told Friday's Wall Street Journal during an interview in Maranello, Italy - the team's spiritual home. He complained that the federation had "forgotten that people watch the racing for the excitement. Nobody watches racing for the efficiency".
'SPORT YES, BUT ALSO A SHOW'
New regulations have made the the sport more environmentally friendly and cut costs with a new turbo-hybrid V6 engine which is quieter and burns less fuel but the boss of the most iconic brand in motorsport complained that the restrictions would muffle a key element of the GP - the howl of the howl of the engines.
"People watch racing to b
e entertained," he said. "Nobody wants to watch a driver save petrol and tyres. They want to see them push - it's sport, yes, but also a show."
Montezemolo attacked in particular the rules that forbid advances on engine design during the season, a situation that has left Ferrari third in the standings.
"And we cannot touch the engine?" he asked.
Ferrari is a subsidiary of the Fiat Group of which Montezemolo was chairman from 2004-10. The brand has 15 F1 Drivers' titles and 16 Constructors' championships from 221 GP wins.
It has raced in F1 since its formula's debut in 1950.
It had also participated in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans but from 1973 founder Enzo Ferrari chose to concentrate exclusively on F1.
FOURTH IN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Montezemolo stressed that no decision had been made but indicated that Ferrari could pursue endurance racing as soon as 2020, the Journal reported. "We cannot do sports-car racing and F1," he added.
Since the start of the 2014 season Ferrari has been trailing Mercedes and Red Bull and is even under threat from Force India.
Ferrari is fourth in the Constructors' championship; one of its drivers, Fernando Alonso, is fourth in the Drivers' standings with fewer than half the points of leader Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.
