Formula 1’s 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell says the sport cannot do without Ferrari and needs to hold on to its manufacturer teams.
The first version of the 2021 engine regulation presented last year caused a furore among the incumbent manufacturers and Ferrari went as far as to threaten to exit the sport.
The Italian team’s president Sergio Marchionne was adamant that if Liberty changes the nature of the sport too much, they will not play after their contract ends in 2020.
Ferrari moving out of F1 would not be good, says Mansell
When asked if the sport can continue without Ferrari, the Brit replied: “Absolutely not. Formula 1 will have great challenges ahead if they let any manufacturer walk away.
“We only have 20 cars on the grid now. In the heyday, there were 43 Formula 1 cars trying to qualify for 26 places.”
“The fans worldwide are crying out to have 26 cars now. We need new drivers, new blood, new manufacturers to start competing on a level playing field.” -Nigel Mansell
Mansell suggests that F1 should attract more teams and car makers to grid. But, it should be done in a way that can be attractive to both, the old and the new teams.
“We’ve got a backlog of great drivers wanting to come into Formula 1 and we need more manufacturers with at least 26 cars on the grid.
“Hopefully Liberty are going to get some new regulations that everyone will embrace and there will be a more level playing field where people can be competitive.
“There is something wrong with any sport when you have, as a good or bad example, an incredible team like McLaren who have won so many World Championships and an incredible manufacturer of engines like Honda, they couldn’t get it together. It shouldn’t be that difficult.”
