Hands off the FTM: why Ferrari must play the veto card
Ferrari once again finds itself at the center of mounting pressure from rival Formula 1 teams. Inside the F1 paddock, battles are not fought only through lap times and on-track performance, but also through political maneuvering behind closed doors. Right now, the Scuderia is caught in the middle of a dangerous crossfire that could threaten not only its current competitiveness, but also its immediate future in the sport.
Between growing calls for technical bans pushed heavily by sections of the British media and continued uncertainty surrounding power unit concessions, the message coming from Maranello should be clear and uncompromising: the era of diplomacy is over. Ferrari must stand its ground and be prepared to use its historic veto power.
The media offensive against the FTM exhaust
The controversy began following recent reports published by The Race, claiming that the FIA could move to outlaw Ferrari’s innovative FTM exhaust design — along with similar concepts copied by rival teams — starting from the 2027 Formula 1 season. According to the rumors circulating in the paddock, the proposed directive appears almost tailor-made to slow down Ferrari’s technical momentum.
However, according to reports from AutoRacer.it, Ferrari has absolutely no intention of backing down. Engineers in Maranello are continuing to dedicate hundreds of development hours to the FTM concept, fully aware of the substantial performance gains the system is believed to provide. In fact, Ferrari’s objective is reportedly to introduce an even more extreme evolution of the design on the upcoming Project 679 car for next season.
Accepting what many inside the paddock already view as politically motivated pressure from both the FIA and influential British media outlets would effectively mean throwing away months of engineering investment, research, and technical innovation. For Ferrari, abandoning the project now would represent a major strategic defeat.
The ADUO trap and Frederic Vasseur’s political nightmare
Yet the possible FTM ban is only one part of the problem facing Ferrari. The far bigger concern is currently developing around Formula 1’s next-generation Power Units and the controversial ADUO concessions system.
Ferrari desperately needs access to the concessions provided through the ADUO mechanism, which is specifically designed to help manufacturers trailing by more than four percent compared to the benchmark engine supplier — a position currently believed to be occupied by Mercedes.
Recent comments made by team principal Frederic Vasseur have revealed growing concern inside Maranello. If Ferrari were forced to abandon the FTM system while simultaneously being denied the highest level of ADUO support needed to close the engine performance gap, the result would be a devastating political defeat for the Scuderia.
Such a scenario would leave Ferrari severely weakened on two fronts at the same time: aerodynamics and power unit performance. For a team already under intense scrutiny from fans and media alike, it would represent an unacceptable blow during a crucial phase of Formula 1’s regulatory transition.
The new engine at Spa: a wait that feels too long
Adding further tension to the situation is the timeline surrounding Ferrari’s long-awaited new power unit package. The latest rumors emerging from the paddock indicate that the updated Ferrari engine will not be ready before the tenth race weekend of the season, the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Although Ferrari engineers reportedly remain confident that the SF-26 chassis can be adapted relatively easily to accommodate the new engine architecture, the waiting period remains significant. During this transitional phase, the Scuderia cannot afford to remain passive while key political and technical decisions are being made around it.
Every month lost in development risks widening the gap to rivals, especially at a time when Formula 1’s power balance appears increasingly dependent on regulatory interpretation and behind-the-scenes negotiations as much as pure engineering excellence.
The moment to play the ace card: Ferrari’s veto right
This is precisely where Ferrari’s history, political influence, and identity within Formula 1 become critically important. The Scuderia possesses a unique tool unlike any other team in world motorsport: the historic right of veto over Formula 1 technical regulations.
It was Enzo Ferrari himself who demanded this protection decades ago in order to shield the team from external interference and politically motivated rule changes. That veto remains one of the most powerful symbols of Ferrari’s unique status within Formula 1.
Too often in recent years, Ferrari has chosen the path of compromise, attempting to act as the “good guys” for the supposed benefit of the sport while rival teams aggressively protected their own interests behind the scenes.
Now, many believe that approach can no longer continue.
If the FIA ultimately attempts to erase the FTM exhaust concept with a regulatory intervention while also limiting Ferrari’s access to meaningful ADUO concessions, then Frederic Vasseur and John Elkann would have both a competitive and moral obligation toward Ferrari supporters — and toward the team’s own history — to block the process entirely.
Formula 1 needs Ferrari just as much as Ferrari needs Formula 1. And if there has ever been a moment to remind rival teams, Liberty Media, and the FIA of that reality, many inside Maranello may feel that moment has finally arrived.
Ferrari must raise its voice.
