Ferrari on Course to Retain F1 Supremacy with Absolute Veto in Rule Making

Ferrari is regarded as the oldest team in Formula One, having been there since inception. Due to their stature as one of Formula One’s ‘old dogs’, they have the most sway in the FIA.

In other words, they have been granted the right to “veto” any proposed Formula 1 rules. For a long time, it has been much disputed and a number of teams are unhappy with the power that Ferrari enjoys.

Now, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport believes that Ferrari may still have this power in 2020, but it will be limited. This revelation comes after the teams met with the FIA and Liberty Media to discuss the 2021 regulations for the final time before the end of October deadline.

However, Auto Bild claims that the meeting did not go well, with the teams only submitting counterproposals to the most disputed of the rules. Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that it was agreed that Scuderia Ferrari will keep its controversial veto.

This is a far cry from a few months ago when Williams F1 boss, Claire Williams declared that the veto “makes no sense” and is “silly”. Luckily, it was worth noting that Ferrari’s post-2021 veto will include “some limitations”. For instance, the Maranello team will only be able to veto rules about the power units, financial rules, and rules pertaining to the ‘DNA’ of F1.

“Certainly the veto right is something important for Ferrari but I believe it’s something important for F1 overall as well,” said Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto.

“Somehow it’s not only protecting us but it’s protecting all the teams maybe against some decisions which could be against the spirit or the interest of the teams themselves, something that we are starting discussing with both the FIA and F1. I think we are doing well in that respect and hopefully we can keep the same rights.”