Ferrari: F1 needs to clarify future

Ahead of likely intense discussions to try and frame a new Concorde Agreement, plus intrigue caused by News Corporation's interest in getting involved in F1, talk about a possible breakaway championship has emerged once again.

And Ferrari has made it clear that it is only interested in staying in an F1 that suits its need.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali says that talks about the future are likely to ramp up soon - with leading teams Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull Racing and Mercedes-Benz due to meet News Corp next week to discuss future plans.

In an interview due to be published in Auto Bild Motorsport, Domenicali said about the Concorde Agreement talks: "At the moment everything is calm, but soon something will happen.

"From the commercial point of view we need to clarify the following points: who will get in the talks? I mean, which teams and constructors want to stay and which want to enter F1? And who is responsible for the show? A marketing partner is needed.

"It can be CVC once more, but it must invest in F1 and develop. And we must make sure our sport becomes interesting for young people. F1 must speak their language, use their technologies, internet, tablets, social forums. And remain comprehensible for the audience.

"F1 is interesting for Ferrari only if these points are taken into consideration. And we must avoid the rules to change too often. We need stability, on top of having grands prix in important countries for our sales, first of all in the USA."

Domenicali's comments come on the back of a statement issued by Ferrari saying that the most important thing for F1 to secure amid the forthcoming discussions was stability for the sport.

"We have no comment to make, partly because we are not directly involved at the moment," said a Ferrari spokesperson. "All we can do is repeat what has already been said so often in the past: Ferrari stresses the importance of ensuring the long term stability and development of Formula 1."

At the Chinese Grand Prix, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said F1 had to do more to market itself in countries.

"I think we collectively have to do a much better job," he said. "F1 is spoilt. We have lots of markets that want us there, that have enthusiasm and knowledge, and are switched onto it.

"But it is a lesson we have to learn before we go back into the USA market. The USA does not need F1, we need the USA. And if we plonk ourselves down and believe the USA will reignite its enthusiasm for F1 we are wrong. F1 has to work harder."