The task is tough, but not impossible. And someone tried: to tell the remarkable, multifaceted life of Luca Cordero di Montezemolo in just 100 minutes. That’s exactly what “Luca: Seeing Red” sets out to do, the docufilm in which former Top Gear host Chris Harris has Montezemolo himself recount his life of achievements, always in the spotlight. This is a fascinating work for all motorsport enthusiasts and beyond, which premiered a few days ago in Milan. In it, viewers discover not only the public Montezemolo but also a more private side, focused on his passions like the family ranch at his home in the hills of Bologna. It is a cinematic work in which the former Ferrari chief retraces the most significant moments of his life and career, always keeping a special place in his heart for the Prancing Horse. “After my family, Ferrari has been the most important thing in my life,” the Bolognese repeats when prompted about his memories at Villa Fungarino, the centerpiece of the documentary by Christopher Armstrong and Manish Pandey.
A home full of stories
A residence that, for a long time, was part of Ferrari’s golden years in F1, serving as the location of the first meeting with Ferrari’s “sweep-all” team principal of the early 2000s, Jean Todt, who showed up in a Mercedes and nearly derailed the negotiations. Or the meeting between Montezemolo and Ayrton Senna just days before the Brazilian’s death, who almost promised to leave Williams. “He was sitting in an armchair,” recalls the lawyer, “he had a contract with Williams, but I felt he was not happy. He told me the contract wouldn’t be a problem, that he wanted to drive for Ferrari and would find a way to free himself. We had dinner, talked about Brazil, Italy, family… a few days later I was in front of the TV when at Imola… it was terrible. If I had signed Senna, would I have gotten Michael? No.” But a few years later, still at Villa Fungarino, came Michael Schumacher, the man who changed Ferrari’s history. “We signed him at the right moment, in ’96, when the team had grown, closing the gap in aerodynamics, electronics, materials. We were ready. Michael was an extraordinary team man, never once saying anything against the team, even when he broke a leg because of us.”
Moments of emotion
Among other key moments in his life, Luca recalls the phone call from Gianni Agnelli three laps from the end of the Japanese Grand Prix, which brought the World Championship back to Maranello after 21 years: “He called me with three laps to go and said: we’ve won. I replied: please, let’s wait. After the finish, he thanked me. It seemed he was crying.” And tears also marked the call between Montezemolo and Enzo Ferrari after Lauda won the 1975 World Championship at Monza: “For the first time, I heard him cry.”
And, always starting with a phone call, the docufilm begins: the young rally driver, Nerone, called Chiamate Roma 3131 to defend Ferrari. The Drake heard him, wanted to meet him, and offered him a job that propelled him into F1. That driver was Montezemolo, later called to sign Lauda and win together, before moving on to Fiat, Cinzano, Azzurra, and Italia ’90. A rise that even led Gianni Agnelli to entrust him with the presidency of a Ferrari that, in the early ’90s, neither won on track nor sold cars. From there, he started a revolution that made Ferrari what it is today. There was the Fiat presidency, the relationship with Sergio Marchionne, and the abrupt farewell from the Prancing Horse: “The company owners, the shareholders, have the right to change a CEO. The problem is how. Some ask me: is it possible that at Ferrari museums there isn’t a photo of you? Being jealous of the past isn’t a good thing.”
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