F1 could 'absolutely not' do without Ferrari - Mansell

Former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell has insisted that the sport could 'absolutely not' afford to let Ferrari leave as the Scuderia continue their threats to quit F1 in protest at new engine regulations installed by the new owners, Liberty Media.

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne has regularly threatened to leave F1 over the past year or so, citing the standardisation of engines regulation to be introduced in 2021 as the reason.

Mansell, who is a former driver for the Prancing Horse, thinks it is very important for the sport that manufacturer stays. When asked recently if he thinks F1 could handle the departure, he said:

"Absolutely not. Formula 1 will have great challenges ahead if they let any manufacturer walk away.

"We only have 20 cars on the grid now. In the heyday there were 43 Formula 1 cars trying to qualify for 26 places. The fans worldwide are crying out to have 26 cars now. We need new drivers, new blood, new manufacturers to start competing on a level playing field."

The engine regulations being implemented by Liberty Media are a cost-cutting initiative, and Mansell thinks that cheaper production could attract more manufacturers to enter F1.

"We've got a backlog of great drivers wanting to come into Formula 1 and we need more manufacturers with at least 26 cars on the grid," he continued.

"Hopefully Liberty are going to get some new regulations that everyone will embrace and there will be a more level playing field where people can be competitive.

"There is something wrong with any sport when you have, as a good or bad example, an incredible team like McLaren who have won so many world championships and an incredible manufacturer of engines like Honda, they couldn't get it together. It shouldn't be that difficult."