Ecclestone: Ferrari could live without F1

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has insisted that Ferrari could cope without competing in F1 but the sport would suffer if the Prancing Horse left, as he addressed the continuous rumours that Ferrari are threatening to leave the sport altogether.

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne has been a major critic of the new owners of F1, Liberty Media, in particular their plans to standardise engine parts, limit teams to three engines per season, and implement a more even distribution of finances among the teams to level the playing field for lesser outfits.

Ecclestone thinks that Ferrari could survive without Formula One, but not the other way around.

“If it had been [ex-Ferrari chairman] Luca di Montezemolo, you would not have to take it so seriously. Motorsport was Luca’s life,” Ecclestone told Auto Motor und Sport in Germany.

“Sergio can live without Formula 1. He is only interested in the business. The most important thing for him is that he can offer the shareholders a good business result.

“If Marchionne does not like the path Formula 1 takes, then he will stop. I’m afraid Ferrari could live without Formula 1 – not the other way around.”

During the 2017 season, Marchionne commented that the Ferrari board would be 'celebrating until the cows come home' if the Scuderia opted to leave the sport due to the money that would be saved from not competing against the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull for the top team spot.