Martin Whitmarsh downplays Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo’s concerns – Formula 1 news
Martin Whitmarsh says that cost control measures are imperative to sustain financial stability in Formula 1.
He also pointed that having third cars is not the way for the betterment of the sport.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo made a comment over the weekend that the teams should be allowed to test during a season and be able to supply teams with cars. Whitmarsh while talking to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in replied to the question regarding
cost control playing an important role in F1, that it is still very necessary.
“The statistics that I live by are the ones that since McLaren entered Formula One it's been quite moderately successful - winning over a quarter of the races and on the podium for more than half of them - and during that time 101 teams have disappeared
from the sport. I think that really demonstrates the volatility of the sport,” Whitmarsh said.
He further elaborated on the topic of running a third car and said that they have evolved from being a sub-set of the automotive sector to a purely Formula 1 set of businesses. The difficulty that smaller teams face should not be underestimated, although
bigger teams will not have a problem with it but to maintain 10 to 12 teams in the sport it is necessary to think about the smaller teams and make sure that they can easily cope with the financial rigours they have to face.
“I personally think that to generate grid size with three-car teams - I understand why some people are attracted to that, and if it was necessary it has some interest to McLaren - is the wrong solution for Formula One,” Whitmarsh added.
Whitmarsh downplayed Montezemolo’s comments that Formula 1 must change in order to grow, by saying that those are his personal views and they do not threaten the unity of the teams. He said that Luca is a charismatic figure within Ferrari and is very passionate
about Formula 1.
Whitmarsh further emphasised on the importance of the governing body working together with the teams to design regulations and praised the improvement demonstrated over the last few years, which has seen the environment to be much calmer by making good decisions
for the progress of the sport.
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