Ferrari customers behind in engine payments

Sep.3 (GMM) Ferrari's customer teams are behind in payments to the Maranello marque.

Referring to engine customers Sauber and Marussia, team boss Marco Mattiacci is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick: "They are behind in their payments."

Expressing concern about the future of Hinwil based Sauber, correspondent Roger Benoit quoted his authoritative Italian colleague Pino Allievi as saying: "Ferrari has never dropped a long-term partner."

Both Sauber and Marussia are undoubtedly struggling financially, with Speed Week reporting rumours earlier this week that Marussia may not make it to Monza this weekend.

Paying driver Max Chilton was at the centre of a contractual kerfuffle last time out at Spa-Francorchamps, and the musical chairs is tipped to continue at the Italian grand prix.

But it emerges that Marussia's race transporters are at least en route to the Autodromo Nazionale.