Ferrari has “run out of patience” with F1 rules – Montezemolo

[Sianellen]

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo had strong words for Bernie Ecclestone following the Formula One Management boss’s recent criticism of the team.

“You have to show respect for your elders, especially when they get to that stage in which they are no longer in control of what they say,” said Montezemolo of Ecclestone. “However, old age is clearly incompatible with certain roles and responsibilities.”

Ecclestone criticised Ferrari for questioning whether Sebastian Vettel had illegally overtaken Jean-Eric Vergne during the Brazilian Grand Prix. The FIA told Ferrari the pass was legal and there was “no case to answer”.

Montezemolo, speaking at a press conference at the Ferrari World Finals in Valencia, said: “The FIA declared that for them there had been no infringement and so the matter was closed.

“Congratulations to Vettel and Red Bull because whoever won after such a difficult season deserved the title and because at Ferrari that is what we do. And we would like everyone to congratulate us next season if we win the world championship.”

Montezemolo also repeated his earlier criticisms about F1′s rules: “There are a number of things that are not right in Formula One and the moment has come to finally sort them out in the appropriate places.”

“It is not acceptable that Formula One no longer transfers technology to our road cars. The aerodynamics is now becoming something which has nothing to do with the research.

“This cannot be a sport in which there is no longer testing on the track. We have run out of patience. We are car manufacturers, not sponsors. As Ecclestone said, ‘it’s a joke’.”

[F1NAC]

We are car manufacturers, not sponsors.

That's right !!

[AfterLife]

Lovely answer.
Lack of testing really hurts teams.

[Suzie]

If we'd won despite the testing ban, would he still be saying that, though?

[fratelliferrari]

Let's hope Bernie will retire soon. He is too old and i prefer to have a younger fresh person, who can change the F1 in a good direction, with also more races in Europe!

[REDARMYSOJA]

“You have to show respect for your elders, especially when they get to that stage in which they are no longer in control of what they say,” said Montezemolo of Ecclestone.

WOW!

[AfterLife]

If we'd won despite the testing ban, would he still be saying that, though?

On track testing is something that nobody will deny it in every situation.

[REDARMYSOJA]

If we'd won despite the testing ban, would he still be saying that, though?

I doubt it would be a priority, though he has been saying this for awhile now.

[alecf1]

There is no other sport where in season testing is not allowed. They did that to reduce the costs and did it help? NO. Teams spend even more money now then they used to ten years ago.
Ferrari owns two tracks and now they have to spend millions and millions for renting a windtunnel and rebuilding their own windtunnel. That's ridicolous.
I couldn't agree more with what Montezemolo said.

[Jas]

Get in their luca...thought bernie and luca were close, obv not so close for a little dig!!!

[FranksterGM]

haha about time he said something.
The new engine rules arent good. capacity please, even a pushrod class, give the people what they want.

Threaten to leave the sport again.

[scuderiafan]

I hope he would have said the same if Ferrari were winning. This is the era of compromise.
I hate it. My love for Ferrari is as strong as ever, but my love for F1 decreases by the day. Long gone is the time of 2 titans putting everything on the line and pushing like 'ell for the prize. Now, it is the era of 'let's wait until his tyres go off and press the button, but keep saving your tyres and engine and brakes etc. etc.'

It is a shame. Before, I would have been outraged if Ferrari made good on its threat to leave F1 and go to LeMans, but now I wouldn't mind it at all. LeMans cars can lap a track almost as fast as F1 cars now, as well

[Kingdom Hearts]

True words by the president, now we have to wait for the revenge, beacuse that's how Bernie works.

[fratelliferrari]

Yep indeed, Bernie will probably be against us next year also. But that's not strange he is against us every year again and again.

[Hornet]

If we'd won despite the testing ban, would he still be saying that, though?

Testing and progress cannot be parted. There is no progress if ideas cannot be tested.

Luca DM point was that as a car manufacture, they want to be able to push their design. Ferrari isn't in F1 to run 2 mobile billboards. They are here to build great cars and win titles.


When we take testing out of the picture, it reflects the lack of commitment to progress, and more of running a profitable business. Keeping cost low, no you can't go there, thats not necessary. Lets take this out, its expensive. No you cant work in the evening, overtime is evil. That engine is fine, lets just recycle them. That's the current state of F1.

That's not part of Ferrari's culture. Ferrari is the first manufacturer I believe that recently introduced a sports car who's body is made of carbon fiber. Toyota don't do this, Red Bull don't do this. Ferrari is constantly pushing progress in car technology because that's part of what Ferrari is.

[wisepie]

Too much reliance on tyres and aero has made the sport a lottery from circuit to circuit, testing was restricted to reduce costs, but I'm pretty sure too much money is still being spent on the technical side beacuse it's become the most important part to achieve success. This in itself makes a bit of a mockery of the WDC and we should go back to basics where the driver can make a difference and the races are less reliant on tyre strategy and quali still isn't fair the way it stands at the moment IMO.

[Giallo 550]

We are car manufacturers, not sponsors. As Ecclestone said, ‘it’s a joke’.”

Love it.

[Alonsomaniac]

“You have to show respect for your elders, especially when they get to that stage in which they are no longer in control of what they say,”

Oof, that hurts! I´m almost sure LDM has lost a friend here.......

[FFFerrari]

Problem is, the other teams won't go for unlimited testing ever again as they know that was a huge part of the golden years during early 2000. Our windtunnel or simulator haven't been up to par with our rivals, but it was always made up by having own track and relentless testing (and a tyre manufacturer in backpocket with Bridgestone). Anyways, some kind of compromise would be good, if nothing else to keep the test drivers up to par and lessen the impact of faulty windtunnels.

[Italian Spirit]

If we'd won despite the testing ban, would he still be saying that, though?

Yes.

[fratelliferrari]

I expect that a team as Ferrari will be able to sort the problems with the windtunnel so we can use it as soon as possible again, with now accurate results and will we work in real on the track.

[Italian Spirit]

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo had strong words for Bernie Ecclestone following the Formula One Management boss’s recent criticism of the team.

“You have to show respect for your elders, especially when they get to that stage in which they are no longer in control of what they say,” said Montezemolo of Ecclestone. “However, old age is clearly incompatible with certain roles and responsibilities.”

Ecclestone criticised Ferrari for questioning whether Sebastian Vettel had illegally overtaken Jean-Eric Vergne during the Brazilian Grand Prix. The FIA told Ferrari the pass was legal and there was “no case to answer”.

Montezemolo, speaking at a press conference at the Ferrari World Finals in Valencia, said: “The FIA declared that for them there had been no infringement and so the matter was closed.

“Congratulations to Vettel and Red Bull because whoever won after such a difficult season deserved the title and because at Ferrari that is what we do. And we would like everyone to congratulate us next season if we win the world championship.”

Montezemolo also repeated his earlier criticisms about F1′s rules: “There are a number of things that are not right in Formula One and the moment has come to finally sort them out in the appropriate places.”

“It is not acceptable that Formula One no longer transfers technology to our road cars. The aerodynamics is now becoming something which has nothing to do with the research.

“This cannot be a sport in which there is no longer testing on the track. We have run out of patience. We are car manufacturers, not sponsors. As Ecclestone said, ‘it’s a joke’.”

Ecclestone doesn't give a d..n about car manufacturers, they don't feed his piggy bank. Same for FIA's bureaucrats.

[fratelliferrari]

Yes that's true. Bernie is only focused on money money and money. I think he has a basement under his house where he swims in his money every weekend.

[Hermann]

Yes that's true. Bernie is only focused on money money and money. I think he has a basement under his house where he swims in his money every weekend.

Like this?

[Italian Spirit]

Yes that's true. Bernie is only focused on money money and money. I think he has a basement under his house where he swims in his money every weekend.

That reminds me a Disney character... what's his name?

[Hermann]

That reminds me a Disney character... what's his name?

Dagobert Duck (see above)

[Italian Spirit]

Like this?

Thanks Hermann. Could you also remind me the name of the rat? It's Fia, isn't it?

[F2002]

If we'd won despite the testing ban, would he still be saying that, though?

He is talking about transferring technology to road cars. Clearly, Ferrari is strategically that much bigger than a Formula One world championship.

[fratelliferrari]

Hihi i was refering to Dagobert Duck in my post. But wasn't sure if he was ''famous'' in the rest of the world like here in the Netherlands

[scuderiafan]

Yes that's true. Bernie is only focused on money money and money. I think he has a basement under his house where he swims in his money every weekend.

Not even the half of it.


Must be getting a hefty share of money generated by the F1 circus, no?