In a recent interview for Motorsport Italy, Italian businessman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the former Chairman of Ferrari, discussed about the difficulties he encountered when he was appointed president of Ferrari, which had been struggling since Enzo Ferrari’s death. Montezemolo made it his personal goal to win the Formula One World Constructors’ Championship once again:
“My strategy regarding Formula 1 when I arrived at the team back in 1992 and the car was already made, was to put a whole team on its feet, starting from number one. But before 1996 if I had brought anyone to Ferrari, we still would not have won. Then with Jean Todt we said that the time has come to bring a driver who can make a difference because we were approaching the moment when we had a more competitive car and the first really good car was the one from 1996. Let’s not forget that in 1996 we won at Spa, we won in Spain, we won at Monza, but it is also true that we had difficult moments in 1996, like when at Magny Cours we were in pole position and in the warm-up lap the engine broke. But it is important to note that if the engine is to brake, it is better for this to happen when you are in pole, not when Minardi is almost in front of you as was the case a few years ago, with all due respect for Minardi.”- Luca Cordero di Montezemolo explained.
Luca Cordero di Montezemolo was also asked about 2006 and the uncertainty regarding Michael Schumacher leaving Ferrari.
Question: In 2006 Ferrari wins nine races, takes seven pole positions, nine fastest laps, so from a difficult year the team went on to have a good season, with a structure of the team that changed: Jean Todt becomes general manager, Domenicalli takes over the responsibilities of the racing department, but Michael arrives at Monza and talks about retiring, in tears. Is it true that maybe you forced him to retire, having Massa who already joined the team, and already having a contract signed with Kimi Raikkonen?
Luca Cordero di Montezemolo: “Michael already from 2005 I think he somewhat reached the limit of everything that the world of Formula 1 means, such as sponsors, journalists, tests. His children had grown up, he wanted to spend more time with them, Michael no longer had the same determination and desire to fight. Maybe he was psychologically tired. When Massa had the accident, I convinced Michael after a discussion of an hour and a half to replace Felipe. When he came to my office Michael was adamanton that he would not return to racing, which proves that maybe he needed one year, two years of rest. In the end, he was very sorry that he couldn’t drive for us anymore. In my mind I had Michael’s return, I was hoping to win the fight to introduce the third car in Formula 1 and to have a Ferrari team made up of Michael, Massa and Raikkonen”.
Full interview in Italian:
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