In a recent interview for Sky Sports Italia, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said the iconic brand could make the move from Formula 1 thanks to new budget constraints in that series.
Formula 1’s $145 million budget cap, down from an initial $175 million, would lead to staff cuts if it didn’t join IndyCar, Mattia Binotto explained:
“Ferrari feels a lot of social responsibility towards its employees, and we want to be sure that for each of them there will be a workspace in the future,” Binotto told Sky. “For this reason, we have started to evaluate alternative programs and I can confirm that we are looking at IndyCar, which is currently a very different category from (Formula 1), but with a change of regulation scheduled in 2022 (to hybrid engines). We also observe the world of endurance racing and other series. We will try to make the best choice.”- the Ferrari boss said.
At the moment, Chevrolet and Honda make up the only engine manufacturers in IndyCar — there haven’t been three since Lotus was involved in 2012.
Mario Andretti, who has won both Formula 1 and IndyCar titles, said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport this week that Scuderia Ferrari should consider entering IndyCar: “I think Matt Binotto would do well to speak with Roger Penske, proposing a project. Ferrari in IndyCar would be an incredible thing, it would raise the level of popularity.”- the Ferrari driver explained.
IndyCar chief executive Mark Miles also confirmed that it ‘would be very exciting for everyone associated with the sport if Ferrari enters IndyCar’, but at the same time said that ‘I don’t have any other comment about the likelihood of that happening.’
Mark Miles would not comment on whether IndyCar has started new dialogue with Ferrari.
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