Exclusive: Formula E CEO delivers Ferrari entry update

Ferrari joining Formula E is a possibility nobody would have thought of a few months ago, but now FE CEO Jeff Dodds is having to address speculation surrounding the motorsport giant.

The saga started at the end of May when Autosport reported that initial talks had taken place between the Italian manufacturer and the all-electric series. When approached by RacingNews365 at the time, an FE spokesperson confirmed that talks had occurred. 

When Ferrari was asked about an FE programme however, a spokesperson delivered a very different response: "Our focus today is on F1 and endurance, and [we] have recently announced we will be taking the race where we never have before (the water)."

Given that Ferrari is slowly turning towards electric vehicles – its first electric sports car will be released early next year – the speculation made some sense. When the rumours started circulating, Ferrari was completing the finishing touches to its first €500 million e-factory in Maranello.

But just how exactly, did Ferrari come up in conversation with Dodds in the first place?

"I think I was interviewed, and someone said, 'had any conversations with Ferrari?' And I went, 'maybe'. That was it!" Dodds exclusively told RacingNews365. 

"That was the interview that then generated those headlines and that amount of interest." 

The rumours regarding Ferrari died down after the initial media craze, only for the fire to be re-stoked at the grand-opening of the e-factory last month.

At the unveiling, was Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, who was not entirely positive about FE when addressing the championship.

“We remain focused on Formula 1,” Vigna said, as per Top Gear, “because that’s where we see a lot of traction. Formula E is not... so nice. I mean, the appeal is not so strong.

“So we remain focused on Formula 1. I think that focus is important. When it comes to racing, we have already made our choices: Formula 1, endurance, and the ocean races we announced a few months ago. We have a lot to do."

Interesting words from Vigna which does not exactly scream that FE is on Ferrari's radar, or was it simply a way to keep interest away from the media?

Dodds is aware of Vigna's recent comments at the end of June, and shared with RacingNews365 what FE knows about Ferrari.

"So what are the facts?" Dodds continued. "I think the facts are that Ferrari has motor racing in its blood. It's a core part of its DNA, a bit like Porsche.

"So we know that as a fact. We know that as a fact the bulk of its customers love combustion engine cars. The Tifosi love combustion engine cars, we know that. We also know that it has built an e-factory in Italy.

"And we also know it has given a rough time estimate, I think 2025 for its first launch of an electric sports car."

Ferrari and FE still talking

Ferrari's launch of its first electric sports car next year is particularly interesting. Given that Ferrari will have created most of the technology needed to race in FE in the development of its electric sports car, why not enter the series?

It would, perhaps, be seen as peculiar for Ferrari not to test its electric technology in a racing series based on its motorsport history, with FE being the only real choice as the FIA's only all-electric single-seater series.

What is clear is that if Ferrari ever wanted to join, the door would be open, with some talks continuing to take place "periodically".

"Would I love them in the series? Yes, of course I would," stressed Dodds. "Would the other manufacturers like to see them join? Yes, because they love top competition.

"Do I know if they'll join or if they're interested in joining? Not really. We engage with them periodically, obviously, one of my executives came out of Ferrari. So we know them. And we know the individuals concerned.

"There's no imminent announcement to do with Ferrari, but they are on an electrification journey themselves as well.

"And I think there may well come a time where they're facing into an electric future and they still have racing in its blood, and they have to make some choices. But that's the truth. The truth is all of those things, but it's not like there's a big imminent announcement."