Massa and Kimi back Ferrari pull-out
Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen have added their weight to the row
over the 2010 budget cap by backing Ferrari’s decision to leave Formula One should the FIA press ahead with a two-tier system.
Ferrari issued an ultimatum to the FIA on Tuesday refusing to enter the 2010 world championship unless the decision to introduce an optional £40m budget cap – which would see some teams given more technical freedom than others – is reversed.
Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen have backed the move, despite their long-standing affiliation with the Italian outfit, not to mention the possibility of fighting for future world championships with the team.
“I understand the motivation, why the company got to this point,” Massa said in a statement. “The idea of having a Championship with two velocities, with cars, which for example are allowed to have flexible wings or an engine without a rev limiter, is absurd.”
“For a driver racing a Ferrari in Formula 1 is a dream and I made mine come true. Since I was a child Ferrari has been the synonym for racing for me; that’s why I’m convinced that even if the Scuderia is forced to leave Formula 1, there will be other competitions, where it will be possible to admire the Reds on the track.”
Raikkonen, who is widely tipped to leave Formula One at the end of the year anyway after appearing to lose interest in the sport since winning the world championship in 2007, said:
“I always thought of Formula 1 as the pinnacle of motor sports, in terms of competition and technology,” the Finn added. “I can’t imagine drivers racing each other on the track with cars built according to different rules; that wouldn’t be good for the sport itself or for the fans.”
“If that should happen, it would be too bad and I understand that a company like Ferrari is thinking about racing somewhere else,” Raikkonen concluded.
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K.Hempel | May 13, 2009 | Reply
Having noticed that many European vineyards (race courses) had been devastated by marauding red foxes the following sonnet will enlighten to F1 crowd:
Sir Bernie, the vintner, at five-foot-five,
climbed up on a box and spoke to his wife,
who was sexy and curvy, a beauty and slim,
and probably 12 inches taller than him:
“Dearest,” he started with arrogant flair,
his eyes partly hidden under snow-whitened hair,
“I have raised our vineyards to much greater height,
which should tackle the foxes’ unchallenged might.”
The red fox’s anger rose up and did swell,
he went to Sir Bernie and rang on the bell,
The butler he opened with grace the tall door,
the fox he entered, his tail on the floor.
“Sir Bernie”, he started, his eyes red with shame,
“last Sunday it may have been brawn over brain,
I will never again next year at this hour
maraude in your vineyards, your grapes are too sour.”
Sir Bernie, the vintner, he stuck to his guns
and threw out the door the red-tailed bums.
He hoped that in future a new ear will dawn
with power from Stuttgart and chassis by Brawn.
The grapposi they furled up red banners and flags,
which now looked like bloodied and torn battle rags,
They traipsed home – to the land of Berlusconi
to drown out their sorrow with bland macaroni