Following an article published on the official Ferrari website, and not thought to be written by their press officer, where digs were made at the new teams entering the Formula One series this season, Virgin boss Richard Branson has retaliated saying that the Italian giants should be welcoming new blood, not discouraging it with insults.

“It is a bit sad to see Ferrari carrying on with those kind of words.”

It wasn’t just hurtful words that the team used as according to Branson, Ferrari were the main instigators behind getting the budget cap idea scrapped, a solution that would have really helped the new teams get established in the sport.

“Ferrari won the battle of making sure the new teams were shackled,” he was quoted as saying in the Sun. “We are not complaining about it and are happy to go on with it. But Ferrari should be welcoming new teams because they will make the sport much more exciting.”

“And we will make them look better for a year or two until we catch them up. Ultimately, I think the new teams will give Ferrari a run for their money, particularly as budgets come down to more realistic levels.”