Ferrari board to discuss F1 future

[John S]

I imagine the current underperformance of the F1 team will also be discussed by the Board and not just budget caps.

Ferrari's board of directors will discuss the Italian squad's future in Formula 1 tomorrow, the team announced on Monday.

Amid growing tension between the teams and the FIA over the introduction of a budget cap for 2010, Ferrari said in a statement on Monday its board will analyse the current situation and its future involvement in F1.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and FIA president Max Mosley have been at loggerheads over the introduction of the budget cap, which the Italian reckons could damage the sport.

Mosley said earlier this month that Formula 1 could survive without Ferrari, the only team who has competed in every championship since 1950.

By Pablo Elizalde Today Autosport.com

[Jericoke]

Ferrari would survive without F1

F1 would survive without Ferrari.  McLaren has been working hard to become a British Ferrari, I suspect that suddenly the FIA and FOM will be much more leniant with them as the McLaren brand builds!

The question is... who would be hurt more if Ferrari and F1 divorced?  I'd guess that F1 would suffer the most:  Ferrari draws in casual fans. 

I don't know what would happen to F1 in Italy if Ferrari pulled out.  Would fans back STR?  Jarno Trulli?  Would they lose interest in F1 without Ferrari?

I don't really think that Ferrari would sell fewer road cars without F1.  The brand is established.  I think that Ford proved that slapping your name on an F1 car doesn't really help sales.

However, I think if F1 were to cede to Ferraris demands, they'd lose in the long run!