And, since the man pointed at by the FIA for causing all this “circle” was Ferrari's Luca di Montezemolo, the Italian official again threatened to form a new series along with the other F1 manufacturers. The Ferrari CEO and FOTA Chairman also expressed his negative feelings on a potential agreement with the governing body.
“We do not know why there is this desire to destroy Formula One. In May our board decided what our position would be and this has not changed. It is useless to continue these polemics. Everyone will make their own decisions,” Di Montezemolo was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.
No less than one week ago, it was another FOTA representative, (Vice-Chairman) John Howett, that confirmed plans for a rival series have been longly discussed by the teams' representatives in the past.
In a recent press release from the FIA, the FOTA was accused of trying to impose a monopoly over the Formula One rules and commercial rights. According to the Paris based association, the ongoing political chaos inside the sport is the result of the battle for supremacy over rules, and not related to the cost cutting policies imposed by the FIA.
In the meantime, another important figure of Formula One racing, triple champion Sir Jackie Stewart, urged the two bodies to reach an agreement soon enough or at least keep their dispute under water, as it only scares sponsors away from the sport.
“(Two multinational corporations) said, 'you have to tell them, you have to stop this dirty-laundry-in-public business. It's absolutely hideous and none of our clients like it,” the 70-year old was quoted as saying by the Telegraph.
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