Ecclestone is concerned about Ferrari’s fate in F1

The great financier of Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone, expressed today his concern regarding Ferrari’s threats to leave F1. The threats have arisen since the announcement of the budget cap at 40 million British pounds.

A few days ago, Ferrari took the case to French courts and was dismissed, leaving the FIA free to continue or not with the budget cap rule. Ecclestone, who had stated a few weeks ago that Ferrari was F1 and F1 was Ferrari, is increasingly concerned and uncomfortable. The situation should become clearer tomorrow at the FOTA/FIA meeting.

« Of course, I feel concerned, I don’t want them to leave F1, nor anyone else for that matter!

The Briton is even more worried because he is very pessimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement before May 29, the registration deadline for the 2010 championship: « We have to wait and see. Probably a large majority of teams will not be registered for the 2010 championship… »

If the top teams leave F1, many are already comparing the championship to ‘Formula GP3’. Ferrari coined the term and other team directors have picked it up in the last few days. This term alludes to all the new teams that want to participate in F1; many are currently in GP2.

« If you look from the beginning of F1, we have had more than 70 different teams. F1 is also about that, but Ferrari has been the only one to be loyal to us all the time, from day one until now. I don’t want to lose them. » reacting to the term GP3 launched by Ferrari.