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Blow for Ferrari as court rejects cap plea
David Smith20 May 2009
Formula One faces losing one of the greatest names in sport when Ferrari failed to gain an injunction against FIA president Max Mosley's controversial plan to impose a £40million budget cap.
Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo had threatened to withdraw his team from Formula One next season if Mosley succeeded in pushing through a cap aimed at reducing the high cost of competing in the world championship.
But a tribunal in Paris, where the FIA have their headquarters, rejected Ferrari's claim that they had a unique licence to veto any changes to the technical rules governing Formula One.
Announced four days ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, today's decision will fuel a growing crisis within the sport. Ferrari have signalled they will appeal, which will mean the deadline of 29 May for entries for next season may have to be moved back.
That appeal is thought unlikely to succeed, and if Ferrari do subsequently quit it is likely that other leading manufacturers will follow suit.
Toyota, Renault and Red Bull have already expressed support for their Italian rival in threatening to leave the sport.
The loss of Ferrari, especially, would deal a huge blow to the credibility of Formula One. The famous red cars, carrying the iconic badge of a prancing black horse, made their debut in the first-ever world championship round, the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, and have since won a record 16 constructors titles including that of last year.
However, Mosley has maintained that no team is bigger than the sport, and he remains committed to slashing costs in the face of a global credit crunch that has already forced the giant Japanese Honda concern to quit the pit lane.
During yesterday's one-hour hearing at the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris, Ferrari's chief legal representative claimed the FIA had presented the team with “a fait accompli”.
Emmanuel Gaillard insisted the £40m cap meant a top team like Ferrari would have make a reduction in it's racing budget of between 80-90 per cent. “It's simply impossible,” he said.
Although any cap would be voluntary, those teams who stick to the limit will be given greater technical freedom and that has created fears of a two-tier championship.
Despite that, Judge Jacques Gondrand de Robert dismissed the case and said: “There is no imminent damage that needs to be prevented or clearly unlawful unrest that needs to be stopped.”
Reader views (5)
The top teams should all pull out.Leave all this little Fat men with nothing to run,they think they own F1 and can make these stupid rules.
- David, london, 21/05/2009 08:09
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I think Mike and joe are very wrong as is Mosely. Without Ferrari there will be no F1.I for one would stop watching and attending 2 GP's a year and I am not a Ferrari fan just an F1 fan. If anybody needs to go it is the control freak Mosely. This will not be allowed to happen though as Bernie knows just how much he will lose by Ferrari pulling out. The loss of advertising revenue and TV royalties would be horrendous and he is in F1 for the money.
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Thailand, 21/05/2009 01:47
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Having followed the F1 Races either on the spot or on TV since G.Farina won the first championship in 1950, I believe that the formula without Ferrari and the other four or five would no longer attract the 'billions' it now does. Who wants to follow a Porsche or Volkswagen special where twenty cars squeeze each other in a tight snake!! Even if it goes against any 'green wishes' of our time...let there be a little bit of room for getting the ultimate out of a vehicle on four wheels...whatever the cost. This is how humanity always has reached limits beyond its dreams.
Paul
- Wernli Paul, Richmond, B.C. Canada, 21/05/2009 01:33
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Good news this.Ferrari have admitted that they have been treated differently since at least 1998 as far as new rules and changes goes so its not been a level playing field for at least 10 years now. F1 can do without them and for that matter Toyota,M.Benz and Renault who all have car giants providing the budgets for there are many more teams ready to come into F1 once the £200-300 million a year spend has gone. I welcome new teams to F1 and with a budget cap for the racing will be better and closer rather than like football he who spends most wins.
- Mike, London England, 20/05/2009 17:24
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Good. One team is not bigger than the sport it participates in.
Hopefully they will return their toys into their pram and concentrate on making a competitive car instead...
- Joe, Romford, 20/05/2009 16:38
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