Ferrari rule out early Vodafone exit

Vodafone has been sponsoring Ferrari since 2002 and their contract with the Italians ends at the end of 2006. But McLaren have recently announced they signed a long term deal with Vodafone which commences in 2007.

The British telecoms company was reportedly looking at ways of switching to McLaren already this season, however president di Montezemolo said today there was no chance the British telecoms company will end its contract with Ferrari prematurely.

"I don't think that's very relevant but I don't think there's any chance," di Montezemolo said at the launch of the 248 F1.

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh said his team would have no problem waiting for the Vodafone partnership to commence no sooner than next year, although he suggested there may still be a chance the sponsor would join the Woking-based team early.

"That is subject to a range of discussions and probably not right that I comment on it," Whitmarsh told reporters in a teleconference from Barcelona yesterday.

"We have a long-term relationship with Vodafone which secures the long-term prosperity of the company. It would be convenient to have clarity on that for 2006 - obviously we are running an [unbranded] car right now and there are discussions going on in the background - but whatever the outcome, it is not a disastrous outcome for us.

"We have the fiscal power to come through 2006, but once you sign up for a partnership then you want to get on with it and make it a success. So certainly we'd like to be a Vodafone partner this year, but if not, I'm sure we'll do a good job in 2007 and beyond."