Ferrari not backed by a manufacturer

Ferrari, who launched their 2006 car at Mugello in Italy today, are owned by Italian carmaker Fiat.

However, di Montezemolo - who is also Fiat's CEO - said his company does not provide any financial support to the Ferrari team, who must be completely self-sustaining - unlike Toyota, Honda, Renault, BMW or McLaren, who all have a large car manufacturer supporting them.

"I like to point out that Fiat doesn't give Ferrari a single euro for racing," di Montezemolo said. "All the racing activity depends exclusively on Ferrari's resources.

"Ferrari must not be seen as an integral part of a car manufacturing team but must be viewed as a private entity.

"We are today in competition against Toyota, the biggest carmaker in the world, and against manufacturing giants like Mercedes, BMW, Honda and Renault. So this should never be forgotten."

Di Montezemolo, again dismissed the idea of a breakaway series run by the car manufacturers, stating the real competition will always be where Ferrari are participating.

"In 2008, we will have a situation where all the teams taking part in F1 are in agreement," the Italian said. "Those who don't agree, I don't think they will be interested in racing alone, or go head to head with just another team.

"I think the real Formula One World Championship is the one where Ferrari is in.  Everyone following Formula One sees what this company represents.

"I'm sure many of the big players in F1 today, if they were to win for the first time or often enough, they would think of leaving the sport. Everyone has his own strategy, but this is not the Ferrari way.

"With patience, sometimes with courage and often with extraordinary passion and determination, Ferrari have always been a protagonist in Formula One since the first race at Silverstone in 1950."

He also offered support to the new regulations introduced this season, which include a new qualifying format and a return to tyre changes during the races.

"As a lover of Formula One, I'm convinced the 2006 regulations are an improvement over the past," di Montezemolo said.

"We'll certainly have more interesting qualifying sessions - which is important for the public, not just for us - but also we'll have less of a tyre world championship and more of one for drivers and teams.

"I also think F1 is on the eve of bigger changes. The regulations expected for 2008 find me in agreement, especially in the interest of F1's future, which must allow for more overtaking, less useless costs, and must still allow for extreme research and technical innovation."