When Ferrari Formula One ace Fernando Alonso waved the tricolore to start the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday, he was signaling to more than the drivers.
In an interview this week in his office in Maranello, Italy, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo vented his discontents with the organizers of F1, the elite open-wheel racing series that dominates world motor sport, and suggested the company may enter sports-car competition instead.
"Formula One isn't working," he said. "It's declining because [the Federation International d'Automobile, the sport's governing body] have forgotten that people watch the racing for the excitement. Nobody watches racing for the efficiency, come on."
FIA didn't respond to a request for comment. Montezemolo stressed no decision has been made. A statement posted late Friday on Ferrari's racing team's website said "some elements of the media" had mischaracterized Montezemolo's words. The statement said it was "a bit of a stretch" to say that Ferrari would quit F1, while also saying "there is a unique attraction to the 24 Hour race." The statement also said "there's nothing to stop Ferrari" from competing in both disciplines.
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