Ferrari Threaten Withdrawing From F1 in 2010 | Kimi’s Statement

The Board of Directors examined developments related to recent
decisions taken by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile during
an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 29 April
2009. Although this meeting was originally called only to examine a
disciplinary matter, the decisions taken mean that, for the first time
ever in Formula 1, the 2010 season will see the introduction of two
different sets of regulations based on arbitrary technical rules and
economic parameters.

 The Board considers that if this is the regulatory framework for
Formula 1 in the future, then the reasons underlying Ferrari’s
uninterrupted participation in the World Championship over the last 60
years – the only constructor to have taken part ever since its
inception in 1950 – would come to a close.

 The Board also expressed its disappointment about the methods adopted
by the FIA in taking decisions of such a serious nature and its refusal
to effectively reach an understanding with constructors and teams. The
rules of governance that have contributed to the development of Formula
1 over the last 25 years have been disregarded, as have the binding
contractual obligations between Ferrari and the FIA itself regarding
the stability of the regulations.

The same rules for all teams,
stability of regulations, the continuity of the FOTA’s endeavours to
methodically and progressively reduce costs, and governance of Formula
1 are the priorities for the future. If these indispensable principles
are not respected and if the regulations adopted for 2010 will not
change, then Ferrari does not intend to enter its cars in the next
Formula 1 World Championship.

Ferrari trusts that its many fans worldwide will understand that
this difficult decision is coherent with the Scuderia’s approach to
motor sport and to Formula 1 in particular, always seeking to promote
its sporting and technical values. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors was mandated to evaluate the most suitable ways and methods
to protect the company’s interests.

Raikkonen And Massa Statements
From Ferrari.com

Kimi: "I can’t imagine a Formula 1 without Ferrari"


"It’s difficult to think of a Formula 1 without Ferrari. When I drove
for McLaren the Scuderia from Maranello was the benchmark, the
competitor you had to be compared with. Since I arrived here I
understood that it is much more than just a team, it’s a legend,
perpetuated via its road and racing cars.



I always had the passion for racing with everything with an engine and
I always thought of Formula 1 as the pinnacle of motor sports, in terms
of competition and technology. Obviously if there really were rules
like the ones set by FIA, it would be difficult to imagine a Formula 1
we had until today.



I can’t imagine drivers racing each other on the track with cars built
according to different rules; that wouldn’t be good for the sport
itself or for the fans. If that should happen, it would be too bad and
I understand that a Company like Ferrari is thinking about racing
somewhere else.”

Kimi has spoken lovely words and he is right when he says the new rules contradict what F1 is about. We could see this coming but after such an amazing history, Ferrari really are the most passionate and extraordinary team in Formula One. Luca di Montezemolo has thanked all the fans who have sent messages of their support in Ferrari’s stance, and guts. Check out this great breakdown of Scuderia Ferrari in F1 – Kimi is a significant part of it, as mentioned in the 2007 season after Michael Schumacher retired:

Of course, we don’t want it to end. But there are now four teams who have said they will not enter the F1 world championship in 2010 unless the budget cap and a new two-tier system are reviewed again and discarded. Toyota, Red Bull, BMW and Ferrari are putting serious pressure on the FIA. All we have to wait and see now if the other teams will follow (update – Renault are also reconsidering entering in 2010) and whether Max Mosley and Co will ‘budge’ on the budget cap! Do you think they will? I’m not so sure. He’s a mad man. The worry for us is that there’s a possibility the F1 drivers won’t be driving F1 cars next year and that means Kimi too. However, with that said, I’m sure we’ll have Kimi racing elsewhere if it is indeed the end of the road
in F1…

Like…in Rally for example. He tried out rally for the first time in January at the Arctic Lapland rally, and then the Vaakuna Mikkelli rally just before the F1 season, in the Fiat Abarth Grande Punto, and received much praise for his skill. Now he’ll be doing his third rally already
this year, in Italy later this month, can you believe!? He’s just too
awesome. And no doubt he’ll be just as thrilling to watch because in
rally he has a whole new platform to unleash his talent on and let’s face it – the boy can drive! This third rally-outing will be on asphalt, rather than the snowy and cold conditions he’s only tried before. Fiat and Ferrari might have already found joining rally full-on an appealing idea. But let’s still hope
that things change in F1 for 2010 though and so Kimi can finish his F1 contract with Ferrari in good feeling, also rounding off his F1 career making it 10 years since 2001. Whatever happens, keep flying Kimi!

The 2007 F1 World Champion entered two rounds of the Finnish Rally
Championship in the winter, driving a Tommi Makinen-prepared Fiat
Abarth Grande Punto.

The Finnish media now reports that Raikkonen, currently 13th in the
2009 drivers’ championship, will race the same car in the Rally della
Marca on the weekend between the forthcoming Monaco and Turkish Grand
Prix.

Taking place in northern Italy’s Treviso region, it will be Raikkonen’s first asphalt rally.