Italian-Canadian executive and Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has admitted that is unlikely for the Maranello team to follow Formula 1 rival Mercedes into Formula E in the near future, but did add that he is taking into consideration the possibility of entering one of the other Fiat brands such as Alfa Romeo or Maserati. Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne had a meeting with Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff on the morning of the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, and one of the topics they discussed was the future of Formula E, officially the FIA Formula E Championship, which is a class of auto racing that uses only electric-powered cars, as the series was conceived in 2012.
Only last week, Mercedes dropped a bombshell when it officially confirmed the rumours that it would be quitting the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, the touring car series using a silhouette racing car based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe) at the end of 2018 in order to pursue Formula E next season. A few days later Porsche announced it own FE move as it pulled the plug on its LMP1 project in WEC.
Ferrari has long hinted about getting involved in FE, given the growing momentum regarding electric road cars. However, Sergio Marchionne thinks that any bid to join the electric racing series would not be with Scuderia Ferrari but instead with one of the other brands that are part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) group – which includes Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Ram Trucks, Abarth, Mopar and SRT. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV also owns Maserati, Comau, Magneti Marelli, and Teksid.
When asked to comment on the possibility of entering Formula E, the Italian-Canadian executive explained: “I talked with Toto, but I do not think Ferrari enters directly. However, we are thinking of doing so as FCA. And if we will enter, with one of the brands from the group, we do not know which one it will be right now.” – Sergio Marchionne concluded.
For a manufacturer so ingrained in Formula One history, this can be considered a huge step, even if the team may not be badged as Ferrari, especially given recent announcements around the world of a ban on conventional fuel burning cars in the not too distant future.
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