Maurizio Arrivabene says Ferrari needs to try and "preserve" the Italian Grand Prix at Monza along with other iconic races.
The Italian Grand Prix is facing an uncertain future with Bernie Ecclestone yet to agree a new contract and Monza struggling to raise the required funds to host the race. The grand prix has been an ever-present on the F1 calendar since 1950, with Monza hosting all but one of the editions of the race.
Asked if Ferrari is playing a role in trying to ensure the Italian Grand Prix remains on the calendar, Arrivabene replied: "Playing a role is a big word.
"I mean we are not negotiating with Bernie. It’s not our job, it’s not our responsibility. Having said so, I think the grand prix of Italy is Monza and I want to be very clear on that. The only picture that I saw in Maranello of Enzo Ferrari at a track actually was here at Monza and I said many, many times something very clear: there is a core of Formula One that in my opinion is represented by Monza, Spa Francorchamps, Hockenheim, Silverstone and Monaco.
"This is the core of Formula One and I think we have to preserve it. Because every person that is losing his own culture, he’s losing the roots, he’s not anymore a person – I mean if we are talking about human beings. But also for these kind of things. If we are losing the core in my opinion then we are losing the show, so I think we can do everything that is in our possibility to defend a grand prix and the clear statement is the following: the grand prix of Italy is Monza.
"The second sentence is that we need to preserve the core of Formula One. I have nothing against all the other grands prix, because it is an international show but even a show has a core and the core for Formula One is the number of grands prix that I mentioned before. This is my personal opinion and it’s also I think our opinion as Ferrari."
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