Formula 1 must push hard to improve its show, according to Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who claims that the Italian manufacturer could turn its back on the sport by the end of the 2012 season.
With the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) striving to improve the overall entertainment of Formula 1, di Montezemolo - who headed the group throughout the 2009 season but has since announced he is to step down - stresses that more work must be done by all involved in the sport.
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| Di Montezemolo is caling for more glamour in the pit lane |
"I want F1 to improve between now and 2012, when we sign a new Concorde Agreement, and if not we will have motivation somewhere else," di Montezemolo is quoted as saying by Autosport. "I have been to Le Mans and I was impressed. We cannot accept huge gaps between drivers, the press and the public; in the past the pits was full of good-looking girls, now it's like a concentration camp - and we need to overtake!
"There are a lot of answers needed. We need good people at the FIA. (Recently-elected FIA President Jean) Todt is a good person and knows F1 and I'm sure his priority is to recreate a different dialogue and atmosphere. Bernie Ecclestone (commercial rights holder) is coming to the end of his career but I am sure he will look ahead - and FOTA has been very useful. There needs to be a strong triangle between the three parties."
As well as its internal parties being brought closer together, the Italian is sure that F1 as a sport must be configured properly to ensure a strong future. "First we have to decide where we want to position the product," di Montezemolo continued. "I think it needs to encompass extreme technology, performance and research. Secondly, we need to save costs without losing the appealing elements; carbon brakes, for instance, are impossible to use with road cars and we can accept a standard gearbox without losing F1 characteristics.
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| The Ferrari Chairman believes F1 generated more interest in the early years of the decade |
"Not being allowed to have Felipe Massa test a car, for me, is against the very nature of the sport. For the moment, I understand, but it's not the future. Thirdly, to replace manufacturer teams with teams that I don't know if they will be ready or in what condition, I don't think is best."
Di Montezemolo also makes reference to the soaring prices for race tickets, which have seen a number of venues' attendance figures continue to plummet this year. "Should we have such expensive tickets?" he asked. "Today a young boy with his girlfriend can fly around the world for less than attending the Monza Grand Prix in the best seats - is that right? I don't want to be arrogant or presumptuous but I want to have professional instruments to look into it.
"I can accept if some manufacturers have left the sport but I think F1 at the beginning of the 2000s has been the best in terms of the public and spectators, with new venues and promotion and investment from the car manufacturers."
