Montezemolo: “This is not Formula 1”

After arriving at the Bahrain Grand Prix for talks with FIA President Jean Todt to discuss the issue of Formula 1 entertainment, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo admitted he was unhappy with the direction the sport has taken this year.

But even suggesting that changes need to be considered – particularly regulations on car noise and fuel economy – the Ferrari president is adamant that rule changes should not work against Mercedes.

“Ferrari said many months ago that they were against the fuel limit, this is not F1,” he said.

“At Christmas I said in front of all the journalists that I was very worried because with the new formula it meant having taxi drivers on the track.”

“We need to take into consideration some suggestions from the public and change something without interfering with today's rules.”

“I think if someone is as advanced as Mercedes, it is absolutely correct not to change something now.”

While aware that major changes are unlikely, Montezemolo admitted that there are several aspects of current F1 that he doesn't like.

And it is estimated that there could be ways to improve the situation – especially on the noise front – that would not require dramatic rule changes that could reshuffle the competitive order.

“My position has been clear for months,” he said. “Having drivers saving fuel and tires, it's not Formula 1.”

“We want to increase the value of passion and the success of F1. We cannot have an F1 that is a fuel saving formula.”

“We have to push from the first lap to the last. If the engine drinks less fuel, better. It means you can race with less fuel, if you want.”

“But that's one point. The public does not like a taxi driver who has to respect the fuel level. This is not F1.”

“The second problem is the sound of the F1 engines, not the noise, but the music.”

“The third is that the rules are too complicated, especially for the people on the track. How can they understand fuel levels? It's really complicated.”

“Then we need to make a formula that is less complicated. Maybe there can be some good ideas that we can share together to improve the situation, because I don't even like the possibility of a decline of F1."