Luca di Montezemolo says Ferrari is eager to help F1 despite FOTA exit

Ferrari is eager to play a role in helping secure a better future for grand prix racing, despite its recent decision to break away from the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA).

That is the view of the Italian car manufacturer's president Luca di Montezemolo, who believes that securing healthy foundations for F1's future is more important than it remaining a part of FOTA - which he originally helped create.

"I think that as in every moment of life, there are moments that are good and moments that are necessary to change," said di Montezemolo, during a brief appearance at Ferrari's Wrooom media event at Madonna di Campiglio.

"We want to play, in a constructive way, a role to look ahead in F1. I think F1 is fantastic, it is our life. This year we have celebrated 60 years, so I think we are allowed to push in a constructive way to look ahead.

"We have to look ahead in terms of technology, we have to look ahead in terms of young public, in terms of transfer of technology to the road cars because we don't do satellites or aeroplanes.

"We have to look ahead in terms of new drivers, as it is important to give the possibility as in the past with tests. If I have a good driver I have to give him the possibility to show his capabilities. So without polemics, without problems, it is important Ferrari can play a role looking ahead."

Di Montezemolo also believes that the restructuring of Ferrari that has taken place over the last few months – and which includes the appointment of former Bridgestone tyre chief Hirohide Hamashima – is a part on the process that has been underway for the past 20 years and is not a dramatic revolution.

"We started a big change with things since 1996, but from 1996 until now, we changed one or maximum two people per year when it was necessary - mainly not to pay too big a price to be in Italy, to be isolated from the Silicon Valley of F1.

"If you see normally we introduce people on the aerodynamics, even because I think in every company, not just F1, every company, sometimes it is important to open the window to some new culture, new mentality and fresh air without exaggerating.

"If you look, [Stefano] Domenicali was born with us, [Luca] Marmorini was born with us, the race engineers – one is Italian and the other has been with Ferrari for many years, so we have a lot of growth from inside but sometimes without excess, without revolution – a dynamic evolution, not revolution."

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