Ferrari slams “obscene” FIA cost cap initiative

Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne has slammed the engine cost capping measures brought forward by the FIA, describing the initiative as “obscene”.

Formula One’s governing body recently issued a strong-worded statement to allow the introduction of a new power unit from 2017 after Ferrari had blocked a fresh push to reduce the price of customer engines to €12million (£8.6million).

FIA President Jean Todt admitted he was “disappointed” by his former team’s stance, especially after the majority of squads, as well as Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One Management [FOM], had agreed on the measures.

“Ferrari's position is crystal clear, while Jean Todt’s concept is absolutely obscene,” Marchionne is quoted as saying by Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Todt tells us: ‘You will gain by supplying client teams’ and then complained about Ferrari’s veto on the “political” retail price fixed on the engines.

“Thinking that the FIA and FOM can go to the engine manufacturers and impose the obligation to take on the financial commitment and burden to fund other teams, this I consider to be an obscene concept and outside any economic and industrial logic.”

“I find it quite surprising to see that a person like Todt, who has such a wide experience in Formula One, does not realise the costs we incur to create and develop these power units,” the Ferrari boss also said, per Il Corriere Dello Sport.

Ferrari offers “separate” F1 engine project to Red Bull

Click here for an exclusive Q&A with Jolyon Palmer

Use the red tabs on either side of the screen to scroll through more Formula One news and features

Click here for the F1 drivers' girlfriends gallery

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Sad Colapinto laments two crashes in one day in Sao Paulo

Williams suffered a bruising time on Sunday in Sao Paulo, with Alex Albon unable to…

1 hour ago

McLaren: No regrets over timing of Norris pit stop in Sao Paulo GP

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted that the squad has no regrets about their…

3 hours ago

Williams' Boutsen hoists the mainsail in Adelaide

On this day in 1989, Williams' Thierry Boutsen secured his second F1 win when he…

4 hours ago

Horner: Max 'answered critics' with epic Sao Paulo GP drive

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s sensational Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory…

5 hours ago

Sainz left puzzled by double crash drama in rainy São Paulo

Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…

6 hours ago

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

7 hours ago