Italian former F1 driver shares his thoughts on Ferrari and Imola. Italian former F1 driver shares his thoughts on Ferrari and Imola.

Paolo Barilla is the vice president of the famous Italian multinational food company, but he is also a former Formula 1 and prototype car driver, with nine Grands Prix for the Minardi team between 1989 and 1990, taking 11th place at the 1990 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola as his best result. Barilla, then at the wheel of a Minardi M190 powered by Ford Cosworth, played a small role in the world of Formula 1, but holds an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, scored in 1985 together with Klaus Ludwig and Louis Krages in a Porsche 956B managed by the Joest Racing team.

According to the former driver, Imola is a special track and it was right to put it at the center of a broader discussion, linked to the Motor Valley and the so-called ‘Made in Italy’: “It is nice that the Imola Grand Prix is ​​dedicated to Made in Italy. Formula One has always been a bridge between tradition and innovation. And we here in Emilia Romagna know this well. Obviously it is a pity that there is no public in Imola, you felt the enthusiasm of the people under your helmet, when you raced at Santerno. Now we have to deal with the reality of the pandemic, but it is a good thing that Emilia Romagna promotes initiatives that aim to give us back a little of normality.” – he told the Resto del Carlino.

For Paolo Barilla it is essential to believe in innovation, and the former Ferrari driver invites Ferrari and John Elkann to listen to the fans’ desire for “revenge”: “There have been difficult times in the history of Ferrari. Negativity needs to be transformed into an extra boost. I hope that president John Elkann will be able to share to all employees the desire for to fight back and return to the top, like we fans have.” – he said

“The pride of past results should not translate into mere contemplation. It is true for Ferrari as it is for any other company. If by Made in Italy we mean the simple preservation of the baggage of memory, we are lost. You respect tradition if you enhance it with innovation, development, constant investment in human capital and research. I believe in the values ​​of the Land of Motors, but as long as they are a premise, a starting point. I love the Ferraris of the past, I recovered and restored the 312 B that the engineer Forghieri built for Enzo Ferrari over half a century ago. But I am more interested in the Ferraris or Maseratis of 2030.” – Paolo Barilla concluded.