Formula E a 'necessity' for Ferrari - Marchionne

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Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne says his company eventually "needs to be involved" with the all-electric burgeoning series.

That should be music to the ears of promoter Alejandro Agag who has accomplished the amazing feat of attracting automobile manufacturers to a series which is now in its third year.

BMW is already devoting engineering resources to Formula E through its tie-up with Andretti. Audi, Jaguar and Citroen's DS brand are also involved to various degrees while Mercedes owns an option to enter the fray for the 2018/2019 season.

Formula E has evidently drawn the interest of manufacturers which consider the series as a valuable testing ground for future electric technology as Marchionne explains.

BMW gets Formula E manufacturer status from FIA

"We need to be involved in Formula E because electrification via hybridisation is going to be part of our future," Marchionne told FIA publication Auto.

"Hybridisation is crucial to Ferrari. There is no denying that regulations put us under pressure, but we could reach those targets in other ways.

"The challenge is to benefit from hybridisation not just in terms of emissions reduction, but also performance.

"We have already developed a hybrid supercar, La Ferrari, and on future Ferrari models we will leverage new technologies as well as electrification."

Any future involvement by the House of Maranello is unlikely before 2022. It could also choose to supply drivetrain technology should it not enter the series as a fully fledged works team.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.