Ferrari Against Swift Engine Rule Changes

Ferrari are against introduction of a new engine formula as suggested by FIA president Max Mosley last week, stating any changes in engine regulations should be made gradually and with careful planning.

Mosley has told the teams that they have two months to find a way to reduce speeds or the FIA will impose changes for reasons of safety. The FIA president said he would like to see engine capacity reduced from V10 three litre units to 2.4 V8s.

However, the head of Design and Development of Ferrari's engine department, Gilles Simon, said that swift changes would be unprofessional and stated it would be impossible to introduce such change in the near future.

"It's a matter of responsibility towards the sponsors, the company and the spectators: it wouldn't be professional to build an engine in a hurry and then witness many failures at the first race," Simon told Gazzetta dello Sport. "For Grand Prix racing we need a reliable product, this is not an amateurs' series."

Simon added that Ferrari are already working on next season's engine, based on the existing engine rules.

"If the rules will change we'll change too, but we'll have difficulties in preparing something with the sort of development worthy of Formula One. My opinion is that it wouldn't be professional," he said.