Ferrari has confirmed that it will be leaving the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) ahead of the 2012 season, also taking the opportunity to outline the reasons for doing so. A statement on the team's official website explained that although the decision was not an easy one to make, the stalemate with regards to certain issues, specifically cost reduction, has led it to withdraw from the organisation.
"It was a difficult decision and a great deal of thought went into it," read the statement. "It was taken reluctantly after analysing the current situation and the stalemate when it came to debate on some issues that were at the core of why the association was formed, indeed with Ferrari and Luca di Montezemolo as the main instigator and promoter of ideas.
"It’s not by chance that the President of the Maranello company held that same position and job title within FOTA up to the end of 2009. Some of the major achievements of the association during these years, also worked out in conjunction with the FIA, centred around cost reduction, which was of significant benefit to everyone, the big teams and the small ones.
"Ferrari was on the front line in this area, even before the birth of FOTA and it intends to continue to ensure the sustainability of the sport in the long term. Now however, it is necessary to find some new impetus to move it along because FOTA’s drive has run its course, despite the excellent work of current President, Martin Whitmarsh in trying to reach agreement between the various positions for the common good.
Despite its recent decision, Ferrari has insisted that it will continue to work on fine tuning the Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA), with controlling costs still a priority.
"Ferrari will continue to work with the other teams to make the current RRA, aimed at controlling costs, more effective and efficient, modifying it to make it more stringent in key areas such as aerodynamics, to rebalance some aspects such as testing and to expand it to areas currently not covered such as engines," the statement concluded.
Also on Friday:
- Ferrari and Red Bull leave FOTA
- Red Bull confirms FOTA departure
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