“For sure it would be good for sponsors as it would be competitive. And
it would be more interesting because after lap three [in the current era]
they no more care what those cars are doing. They are sometimes three or
four seconds off the pace. The young drivers have no chance [at the moment]
to show what they can do.”
Ferrari’s president admitted that he had been called by an unspecified team
owner in the United States who would be interested in entering Formula One
as a customer team.
“Yes we have been called by this team,” he said. “And I would
love to have a North American team with a Ferrari flag, as I’m sure Mercedes
would with China. But this is the reason why I have been in favour of a
third car – free – for small teams.”
In an interview with Telegraph Sport prior to last month’s United
States Grand Prix, 1978 world champion Mario Andretti said that his son
Michael was keen to enter Formula One with his team Andretti Autosport.
“Quite honestly the only way that you would see an American team would be
if the FIA would allow established teams to sell [cars],” Andretti
said. “What would be wrong with having Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren sell
equipment to one or two teams?
“It would help reduce costs which is something we are always talking
about needing to do. It would encourage potential new teams to enter. I
think the FIA has to look at that possibility.
“The reason I say that is because I hear comments even from my son
Michael, who says he would love to be able to be able to enter Formula One
if only he could buy a customer car. I suspect that would be one team which
would be present almost immediately were they [customer cars] allowed.”