Nov.16 (GMM) Ferrari is not serious when it occasionally threatens to quit formula one.

That is the claim of McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh, who is also the chairman of the F1 teams' association FOTA.

He was asked about Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo's recent warning that without key changes to the sport, the famous Italian marque might pull out.

"I have been in this sport for over 20 years and I have heard that said many times," Whitmarsh told F1's official website.

"In fairness I have never believed that Ferrari would step out of the sport -- I might be wrong, but that's my opinion.

"If you told me to take my pension and put it into two teams that would be here in ten years' time I would put my money into McLaren and Ferrari," he said.

Whitmarsh said he thinks Ferrari's quit threats are often fueled by "passion and frustration", and then exaggerated by the press.

But he doubted McLaren would ever make a similar threat.

"I think we would handle it differently because I don't think it does anyone any good," he explained. "If you have a bad result, you are better off being determined to have better ones in the future."

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