Riccardo Patrese opens up on never joining Ferrari and new generation of F1 drivers

Riccardo Patrese opens up on never joining Ferrari and new generation of F1 drivers. Riccardo Patrese opens up on never joining Ferrari .

In a long interview for the Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, Italian former racing driver Riccardo Patrese, who raced in Formula One from 1977 to 1993, also focused on the past and the fact that he never raced for Scuderia Ferrari, on the current situation of the Maranello team and on the new generations of Formula 1 drivers. Below are some of his statements for Corriere della Sera.

When asked about never racing for Scuderia Ferrari, Riccardo Patrese revealed: “He (Enzo Ferrari, ed) wanted to talk to me after the 1978 South African Grand Prix. His office was gloomy, I was intimidated. But he was kind and let me sign a letter of intent: “If I change Villeneuve, I’ll get you”. Nothing came of it, but still he insisted on paying me the penalty tax” – said Riccardo Patrese, who was then asked if in 1981 Enzo Ferrari preferred Didier Pironi over him: “More than Drake, I think it was the board. Bernie Ecclestone then welcomed me and in 1982 in Montecarlo I won my first Grand Prix”.

Referring instead to the current situation of the Maranello team, the Italian former racing driver was keen to underline: “Recently it seemed to me that there was a lack of a team principal who would make the decisions. And then there was the matter of strongly wanting to deny the departure of Mattia Binotto when everything was already decided”.

Finally, asked to give an opinion on the new generation of drivers, he stated: “There are some “good” ones, but I see them very “taught”: they do their homework and that’s it, in my day you learned with your ‘nose’. Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen? Right now Max has “self confidence” and has all the momentum on his side. He is strong, bad and even an asshole at times, which doesn’t hurt in this sport. Lewis? Now he’s more likeable because he’s stopped dominating. And that world championship from 2021 was stolen from him.” – Riccardo Patrese concluded.