20/03/2009
NEWS STORY
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Speaking during a visit to Ferrari's Maranello HQ by the President of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napoletano, Luca di Montezemolo, who, apart from being President of Ferrari is also President of the Formula One Teams' Association, hit out at the rule changes announced by the FIA on Tuesday.
"I really think it's absurd, severe and dangerous that one week before the first Grand Prix Formula 1 is in such a situation, which is very bad for its credibility, its security, the teams, the car manufacturers, the fans, the journalists and the sponsors who invest," he said.
"I hope for a responsible climate, which has been started by us, the teams, with a cost reduction of 50%," he continued. "It's important to have a serene climate and to avoid continuous changes, creating uncertainty for those who work and making decisions for the future difficult."
di Montezemolo's comments follow the official statement released by FOTA in the wake of the FIA's announcement, in which the teams' organization admitted to being "disappointed" with the World Motor Sport Council's decisions and the unilateral manner in which they were reached.
Napolitano visited the mechanics department, the wind tunnel and the new assembly lines before he was shown around the Fiorano race track, where he was greeted by Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, the F1 team's technicians and a group of workers.
Napolitano spoke to the members of the team and went to see the Ferrari F60 at the box at Fiorano, before he took to the track on board a 612 Scaglietti with di Montezemolo behind the wheel and Raikkonen and Massa in the back.