Schumacher Urges FIA to Take One Step at a Time

Seven time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher reiterated his pro-Ferrari feelings earlier this week, via a video interview on the Italian manufacturer's official website. The German driver pointed out that the Great Circle would simply not be the same without the prancing horse, as well as other long-time manufacturers.

“At the end of the day, if you think Ferrari, the name is so important, it is so big in this sport,” said Schumacher in the aforementioned interview. “It became big due to the sport but it actually grew the sport at the same time.”

“You cannot see F1 without Ferrari or the other manufacturers who have participated for so long. I really believe that somehow they must find a solution – and the solution can only be that it suits those teams that have built up F1 to the state that it is now.”

The German, currently in a consultant role within the Maranello based team, insisted that the cost cutting measures proposed by the FIA should be introduced in the Formula One rule book one step at a time. Dramatic changes from one season to another can only bring more chaos into the sport, apart from endangering the position of manufacturers into the sport.

“You cannot expect drastic changes to be accepted by such important manufacturers. Yes, you have a target, yes, you want to reduce costs, but you have to do it step by step, you cannot turn the world around in one day – that is impossible,” added the former Ferrari-an.

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) recently sent a letter to the FIA on which they attached some proposals of their own regarding the reducing of costs in Formula One from 2010 onwards. As confirmed by a FIA spokesman, the letter was characterized as “not so negative” by the FIA and is to be revised by the ruling body in due time.