Full Throttle

Ferrari are adamant that the distribution of commercial revenue in Formula One remains a key area for revaluation in the future, despite criticisms directed at their president Luca di Montezemolo by the sport’s commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone Saturday morning.

In an interview in The Times, Ecclestone launched an open attack on di Montezemolo who, in his role as chairman of the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA), had said that teams deserved a larger share of the sport’s commercial income.

The Luca di Montezemolo story is a bit old given the 24 hour news cycle, I note it because of how Ecclestone responded to the Ferrari president.

The headline of that article reads thusly: “Ecclestone says Ferrari get special deal.”

Well now, that’s hardly a shock to many F1 fans - and people included in an MIT study - but The Gnome has put a price tag on this alleged deal.

“Ferrari get so much more money than everyone else,” the 78-year-old billionaire told Saturday’s edition of the Times newspaper.

“They know exactly what they get, they are not that stupid, although they are not that bright, either. They get about $80 million more,” added the Briton.

“When they win the constructors’ championship, which they did this year, they got $80 million more than if McLaren had won it.”

80 million more!

If that figure is true what the hell is the drivers championship worth?

It sure puts the first headline - “Ferrari Still Want Revenue Discussions” - in a different perspective doesn’t it?