Ferrari has raised serious doubts over the FIA’s new voluntary ‘Budget Cap’ system, with President Luca di Montezemolo questioning the path Formula One is headed, even alluding that the Scuderia’s involvement in Formula One is ‘not a never ending story’

The World Motorsport Council ratified the new £40 million ‘Budget Cap’ at a meeting in Paris last week, a move to stem unnecessary spending from teams. Parties who sign onto the budget cap will gain exclusive technical benefits (See previous story), benefits which are not available to those who remain ‘free spenders’

It is this ‘two tiered’ approach that has upset di Montezemolo, as he believes fans are likely to be confused and that the regulations may simply be a knee jerk reaction to the global climate.“Any controversy [regarding] the actual respect of the cost cap would undermine the image of Formula 1 and could seriously damage any involved team”, said the Italian in a letter to FIA Presdient, Max Mosely.

The letter, sent on the April 28^th, two days before the details of the ‘Budget Cap’ were announced, declared that Ferrari’s powerful status within F1 allowed them the right to air the grievances, something that the FIA should not take likely. Along with their concerns of the new regulations, Ferrari also claim they haven’t been given sufficient time to properly assess and consider the cost cap before the WMSC meet again. di Montezemolo cast serious doubts on the governing bodies ability to properly manage the new system, stating; ‘I consider that there are serious technical difficulties in making sure that any cap can realistically be monitored’. 

Despite the fact that Ferrari aren’t the only team to raise concerns over the budget cap, Mosley hit back at the claims in a reply letter to di Montezemolo, stating that he hoped Ferrari would take a lead role in the new regulations: as it would “free its engineers to work and preserving its shareholders’ money”. Mosely went on to add, “As you know, we are in an unprecedented situation. The car industry and financial services are the two main sources of Formula 1 income – both are in serious difficulty. We cannot just sit and wait, hoping nothing bad will happen”

Ferrari’s has been the most vocal  of opponents to the recent proposed technical changes, such as the failed one maker engine supplier, this is despite their obvious ‘closeness’ with the FIA, as Formula One Supremo Bernie Ecclestone was quoted as saying “the only team we would really say we would miss is Ferrari”. With further discussion between the FIA and Ferrari likely to be heated, di Montezemolo most recent comments are both puzzling and tantalising, as he questioned the Scuderia’s involvement in the sport itself..  “What I feel is important is that we have stability and credibility of governance of Formula 1….I personally have a lot of passion and Ferrari has a lot of passion, but this is not a never-ending story, so we will see.”

The World Motorsport Council are set to meet within the next 30 days to discuss the new regulations and confirm various teams involvement within them.