Ferrari launch amazing attack on FIA rule changes

Ferrari have launched an amazing attack on the proposed changes to next year's World Championship after having their appeal against the rule changes thrown out by a French court today.
The future participation of Formula One’s most revered team remains shrouded in doubt after they failed in their bid to stop the sport’s governing body from introducing controversial new rules to limit team spending.
Last week the Italian team announced it would withdraw from Formula One next season unless the FIA scrapped plans to introduce a £40million budget cap. After talks at Heathrow last Friday, Ferrari began legal action against the sport's governing body in an attempt to stop it limiting team spending from next season.
In the wake of the decision to reject their appeal, Ferrari openly criticised the quality of teams hoping to enter next season’s championship, which they claim will not only lower the standard of competition but also make a mockery of the sport.
"They could not believe their eyes, the men and women working at Ferrari, when they read the papers this morning and found the names of the teams declaring their intention to race in Formula One next year," an article on Ferrari's official website said.
"Looking at the list, leaked yesterday from Paris, you cannot find a famous name, one of whom has to spend 400 Euros per person for a place in the grandstand at a GP (plus the expenses for the journey and the stay).
"Wirth Research, Lola, USF1, Epsilon Euskadi, RML, Formtech, Campos, iSport: these are the names of the teams, due to compete in the two-tier Formula One wanted by Mosley.
"Can a world championship with teams like them - with due respect - have the same value as today's Formula One, where Ferrari, the big car manufacturers and teams, who created the history of this sport, compete?
"Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call it Formula GP3?"
The FIA’s proposals have also prompted Renault, Red Bull and Toyota to question their future in the sport, although the official deadline for entries into the 2010 world championship is on May 29.
In response, Mosley chastised Ferrari for their attempt to disrupt the sport. "No competitor should place their interests above those of the sport in which they compete," Mosley said. "The FIA, the teams and our commercial partners will now continue to work to ensure the wellbeing of Formula One into 2010 and beyond."
It is understood Ferrari could lodge an appeal, but following their defeat, it is highly unlikely they would overturn today's decision. "There is no risk of any imminent damage which should be prevented or obviously illegal trouble which should be stopped," magistrate Jacques Gondran de Robert wrote in his ruling.
The decision means all the current teams, and the potential new entries, now have until May 29 to sign up to the cap regulation.
Mosley set a figure of £40 million at the end of April, sparking uproar amongst the major manufacturers who spend four and five times that amount per annum. It could mean Ferrari now decide to pull out of the sport, as they have recently threatened to do, and compete elsewhere.
Source:The times