Ferrari F1 President Sergio Marchionne said that the team "could quit Formula 1" if it does not "approve of the direction taken" by F1 owner Liberty Media, according to Andrew Benson of the BBC. The Ferrari exec "pinpointed proposals for a new engine design" from '21 as he made the threat in a conference call with investors. Marchionne said that F1 had been "part of our DNA since the day we were born." But he added, "If we change the sandbox to the point it becomes unrecognizable, I don't want to play any more." His concerns follow "objections" from Mercedes and Renault over plans for a new engine design that were presented jointly last Tuesday by FIA and the F1 Group, which was bought by Liberty earlier this year. They "set a confrontational tone for the major meeting" on Tuesday of F1's strategy group, which includes FIA, F1 and the six leading teams. Liberty is "expected to outline further details of its plans for the sport, including how to instigate a budget cap." Marchionne "likened some of Liberty's ideas" to those witnessed in NASCAR, which "effectively uses standard cars and employs a number of artificial means to keep racing close." He said, "I don't want to play NASCAR globally, I just don't" (BBC, 11/3). GMM reported as for what Ferrari would do if it quits F1, Marchionne suggested Maranello could help establish a new series and "celebrate until the cows come home." When asked how being the president who ended Ferrari's long association with F1 would feel, Marchionne answered, "Like a million bucks" (GMM, 11/3).
