'Ferrari quit threat is just tactical'

Alejandro Agag, Formula E chief, has poured scorn on speculation over Ferrari's threat to quit Formula 1 in the near future, and reckons that the Italian giants were utilising a 'negotiation tactic' in order to secure the best possible deal going forward.

The chatter around Ferrari and their statements about perhaps walking away from the sport one day intensified towards the end of the 2017 season, with some believing the rumours to be legitimate, such was their stance on the regulation changes brought in by Liberty Media.

But Agag feels that Ferrari orchestrated the position to ensure that they were able to extract the optimum value from their new contract, saying to ESPN: "I think it does this [quit threat] probably in this moment to get a better negotiating position with F1.

"I guess they are going to have a negotiation soon about the new contract. So that is probably more a tactical move than a real move."

Agag also responded to rumours that Ferrari may one day operate a team in Formula E; the Spaniard issued a statement this week that he feels Formula E will be the dominant, if not the only, motorsport within the next two decades.

As a result, he said that there have been no discussions with Ferrari at this stage, but does see their future involvement in his version of the sport as inevitable.

He added: "I haven't had any direct discussions with Sergio Marchionne or Ferrari, and Fiat is a group that has not done so much on electric.

"I think they will eventually, but I think it will take time for them. Of course we would love to have them, but I don't see this happening soon."

Formula E is in Morocco this weekend, for the third round of the 17-18 season.