A notable presence
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September 2014 was Luca Cordero di Montezemolo’s last appearance in a Formula 1 paddock. One month later, the Bologna-born manager stepped down as Ferrari president, handing the role over to Sergio Marchionne, thus ending his long career in top-level motorsport, a journey spent entirely with the Prancing Horse—first between 1973 and 1977 as head of the Racing Department, then from 1991 as company president.
Now, after more than ten years, Luca di Montezemolo is set to return to the paddock for a Formula 1 Grand Prix. He will attend Sunday’s race in Bahrain as a guest of the local prime minister and crown prince, Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.
Cheering for Ferrari
Ferrari is currently going through a difficult period, following high expectations during winter and poor results collected in the first three weekends of the season. In Bahrain, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton hope to have a positive weekend. And so, there will be one more supporter in the paddock: Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who told ANSA he hopes “to bring some luck to Ferrari, which really needs it.”
Less than ten days ago, Bernie Ecclestone spoke of a conversation he had with the former Ferrari president, who was disheartened by the team’s double disqualification—a unique event in the Scuderia’s history—at the Chinese Grand Prix.
