Ferrari: Navy flag has nothing to do with politics!
Italian Navy in the Ferrari F2012 (above number)
Ferrari has rejected claims it put the Italian navy flag logo on its F1 cars in India for political reasons.
The decision has undoubtedly sparked a political response, with Italian government figures welcoming the decision and their Indian counterparts angered.
But team boss Stefano Domenicali on Friday denied the move was linked with the diplomatic situation involving two Italian sailors held in India on murder charges.
"No, no, that's not true," he insisted.
The original Ferrari statement, however, clearly referred to the "two sailors".
The Maranello based team then issued a new statement, saying "with all the respect due to the Indian authorities ... this initiative does not have ... any political implication".
But some Italian insiders believe Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who has a political party, knew precisely the impact the flag logo would provoke.
Indeed, he is quoted by Ansa news agency: "It (the logo) is the contribution that Ferrari can make to this story.
"All we want to do," Montezemolo is also quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, "is make a small contribution ... towards finding a solution through dialogue."
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3 Most Recent F1 Fan Comments
"I have never laughed so much"
"Ferraris solution! Seeing as Binotto & his strategy team has "cocked" up the first half of the season I suggest that they let their drivers make the decision with no argument,, CL obviously upset by the wrong & hesitant calls made by his team seems confident that he can do better so,, let them make their own calls.. Sorted."
"Yes , good bloke, straight talking German, a worthy moustache weare to rival Nige possibly, a company man , he was moved on but , was he bothered Naww he was retiring anyway to enjoy the bratwursts and weissbier franziskaner, myself i prefered the Warsteiner( prev mcl sponsor), tenuous link Warstein not far away from Mohne Damm, which the British visited a few decades ago , enough said"