Marchionne backs 2017 delay for F1 revolution

Feb.23 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has backed the move to delay a technical revolution in formula one until 2017.

It had appeared that Ferrari was leading the charge for rapid change, when on the very day the F1 Commission met to vote on proposed changes for 2016, it published images of its radical-looking 'concept car'.

But Marchionne, the Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari president, told Italian-language reporters at the Barcelona test that he was actually not in favour of 1,000 horse power engines and radically different cars making their bow next year.

"Do not confuse what can be done in 2015 for 2016 and what can be done for 2017," he is quoted as saying.

"The changes for 2016 would have created big problems in the management both for us and for Mercedes," Marchionne insisted.

"We decided to address the matter of bigger tyres, wider cars and more powerful engines for 2017," he explained.

"The current regulations will remain valid also next year. To change the rules from scratch would have created huge problems.

"We should not mess around: these are bullets on the track and they are not invented overnight.

"It is easy to make changes on paper, but you have to make them work on the track," said Marchionne.

Finally, Marchionne explained the reasoning behind adding the iconic Alfa Romeo badge to the livery of this year's Ferrari.

"I was at the Ferrari museum," said the Italian-Canadian, "and you can see the story with a great closeness to Alfa Romeo."

Asked if the association between F1 and Alfa Romeo might be developed in the future, Marchionne added: "Maybe. Who knows. Anything is possible."