Report: Ferrari threatens to exit Formula 1 over engine changes

Liberty Media recently completed its take over of Formula 1 and has been pushing to make changes to the sport in order to make it more appealing to the fans. With multiple plans being considered at the moment, it's most recent one, specifically about engine changes in 2021, has caused one team to threaten to leave the sport.

Recently, Liberty Media has announced that they plan to make several engine regulation changes by 2021 in order to reduce costs, leveling the playing field for all teams as well as increasing the noise created by the power units. However, that announcement has not been accepted too well by Mercedes and Renault. Ferrari meanwhile has threatened to exit the sport if the proposed changes are made.

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne has said that the Italian supercar maker will not be 'playing' should the proposed engine plans are made. He says that Liberty Media has to provide Ferrari with a 'set of circumstances the results of which are beneficial to the maintenance of the brand, and the marketplace, and to the strengthening of the unique position for Ferrari'.

If plans do push through, dropping out of the series could be beneficial for Ferrari, with Marchionne saying it could improve their balance sheets. He would then try to replace F1 with a more rational choice.

The Maranello-based performance car maker has committed to race until the end of 2020 under the Concorde Agreement. Furthermore, Ferrari has been the only automaker to have participated in every single Formula 1 race since the series began in 1950.

Source: NBC Sports