Ferrari's enthusiasm for a standard engine package would appear to be very low. Under the proposed new terms of a standard engine the chosen supplier for the new engine will not be able to gain any promotional benefit from their supply contract.
Still - the reality is that the supplier WILL derive some promotional benefit from this activity - and which manaufacturer in F1 has the most to lose?
Well it's a no brainer - Ferrari's brand value is probably greater than all the other teams put together and any dilution of Ferrari DNA in their F1 car is going to be seen to be detrimental to the value of their participation.
Even if they won the contract to supply the engines for the grid - they would not be keen to be beaten by a competitor - and Ferrari have traditionally been strong engine wise.
The likelihood is that the engine supply contract will be won one of the Japanese behemoths like Toyota or Honda - who could afford to price their supply contracts at a very low cost - and lets face it - with the current car - this would be the only way Honda could win a race!
So is this sabre rattling - or do Ferrari really mean it? Well look at this way - Ferrari have traditionally always had a disproportionate influence for a single team in the direction of F1 - so untill these new rules are cast in stone - nothing is certain.
Ferrari PR below:
The Board of Directors of Ferrari SpA met yesterday under the chairmanship of Luca di Montezemolo, to examine the third quarter results. Ferrari recorded 450 million euros in revenues (up 22.3% year-over-year), and a trading profit of 79 million euros (17.6% of revenues), up 41.1% from the 56 million euros figure (15.2% of revenues) for Q3 2007.
The Board of Directors also examined the proposed changes to the Formula 1 regulations, in the light of the current global economic crisis.
Whilst reiterating its wholehearted commitment to a substantial and needed reduction in costs in Formula 1, starting with propulsion, the Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that such a move would detract from the entire raison of a sport with which Ferrari has been involved continuously since 1950, a raison d'etre based principally on competition and technological development.
The Board of Directors expressed the opinion that should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate, with its partners the viability of continuing its presence in the sport.
