Ferrari says F1 must keep European races

That is the view of Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari, the only surviving son of company founder Enzo.

Making a special appearance at the Italian team's Wrooom media event at Madonna di Campiglio on Friday, Ferrari said that while welcoming the global scale of F1, he felt it vital that Europe's venues did not disappear from the schedule.

"We feel F1 has to be a worldwide championship, so it is natural to have this outside Europe," he said. "What I regret is to miss some important grands prix, like the Grand Prix of France, and if we miss other grands prix like this, this will be a shame.

"I am not in favour to reduce the number of European grands prix. For us, Silverstone is a really important race, like Monza, and Spa - and every year you see fantastic races [there], so I hope not to miss those races."

Ferrari also played down any suggestions that there was extra pressure on the F1 team to win the title this year due to the impact the worldwide global financial crisis is having on road car sales.

"Personally I don't see a direct link from the number of victories in F1, or the championship, and the sales," he said.

"Normally we sell cars and it bears no relation [to results]. Ferrari has two different calls - one is the world championship and the other is to make production and GT cars very successful and profitable.

"For me there is no link, so I am looking to the F1 season to have better results than 2011, and we are racing to win - not just to be in the field. That is my wish. And for Ferrari GT [road cars], there is the financial crisis but in other countries I feel Ferrari can be in good health in 2012."