a devils advocate response response then!
are Ferrari against a simpler engine per say or are they just not interested in being told what to do/want to dictate the terms of the game themselves? they could use any engine formula as long as they get to decide which one it is.
-so from a fan point of view, if Ferrari just said they wanted a new series using say V12 or V10 engines and dusted off some old designs, then that may prove more enticing to fans. either way if they leave the tifosi leaves with them and thats a bulk of the fans right there and little to no new r&d expenditures.
while that would also give them a monopoly on engine sales it would also create a spec series where the Ferrari A- team wins every year so for how long it could stay popular would be an obvious concern.
-in this day and age could the FIA really employ tactics preventing tracks and partners from entering into a new series. there is enough anti-trust stuff going on that they may have difficulty in enforcing such exclusionary practices certainly within Europe and the US....the question here then becomes who has the better lawyers?
i think there is possibility the FIA would buckle immediately...especially if the break away series gave the FIA a bigger slice of the commercial pie.
-arguably Ferrari and the potential for more FIAT IPOs may be all the financial backing they need. if you will, a self directed marketing platform so the series could be in a position to fund itself....plus they got that Philip Morris money!
anyways, i agree, its a huge gamble and probably just an elaborate negotiation tactic.
but that said, as a matter of principle im against 'ownership' so that means im with the teams on this one and with Ferrari currently being the most vocal of the engine manus they are taking the brunt of the criticism.
Merc and Renault also seem to have many issues (even the same ones as ferrari) with the proposed new engine direction and for the time being seem content to let Ferrari carry the water on this issue.
i do miss the days of Martin Whitmarsh's FOTA though as his level headed demeanor really set a constructive tone...Marchionne comes across as a bit of a bully so it is hard to be on his side....have to concede that point!
