Formula One news

Ecclestone hoping for Ferrari continuation

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that he is concerned over the fact that the Ferrari team is considering a sharp exit from Formula One at the end of the 2009 season. The Italian squad, reigning constructors' World Champions, are threatening a departure unless the FIA changes rules surrounding a £40m budget cap.

With Ferrari possessing a large fan base and a history in the sport since the first race in 1950, the team has requested that the governing body immediately modifies its spending limit rules for 2010, which will grant teams using the scheme with greater technical freedom when designing and running cars. "Well, I am concerned, I don't want them leaving - I don't think anybody does," commercial rights holder Ecclestone said in Monaco.

With the deadline for next year's entries being next Friday, there is just over a week remaining for Ferrari to make a decision. "We will have to wait and see - probably the majority won't put an entry in," Ecclestone continued to explain, with regards to the exit threats also put forward by other teams such as Toyota, Red Bull and Renault.

"We've had more than 70 teams in and out since F1 started. The only people who have been consistent are Ferrari, because they have been there from day one, so we don't want to lose Ferrari."

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