Luca di Montezemolo on Lauda, Schumacher & The best way to Repair Ferrari

Károly Méhes catches up with legendary former Ferrari group boss and government, Luca di Montezemolo, to debate his time on the Scuderia and the way he would repair the group’s present woes.

This yr marks 50 years since Niki Lauda’s first championship with Ferrari and 25 years since Michael Schumacher’s first championship with Ferrari, each of which occurred below the management of Luca di Montezemolo. Károly Méhes was granted an unique video interview with di Montezemolo on June 10, 2025. 

What was your response when Enzo Ferrari supplied you the function of supervisor of the Ferrari Formulation 1 group on the age of 26?

I began as Enzo Ferrari’s private assistant in 1973. From the outset, he was at all times asking what I might do to reorganize the race group. He appreciated my recommendation and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he instructed me that I used to be able to take the job as a group supervisor. Sure, I used to be solely 26 and it was very brave of him, I need to admit. No one thought it was potential to be the supervisor of an F1 group like Ferrari at solely 26 years of age! 

Regardless of being younger, I already understood the priorities of the restructuring and since Ferrari was already in a extremely troublesome scenario, it was simpler to some extent than taking up a profitable operation. We managed to realize huge issues rapidly. We narrowly missed the Championship in 1974 on the final race in Watkins Glen after which in 1975, we received with Niki Lauda. We misplaced by one level in 1976 due to Niki’s accident, however received once more in 1977.

You had been promoted to a brand new function at FIAT in 1976 and changed as supervisor of the Ferrari F1 group by Daniele Audetto. Wasn’t it disappointing for you to not proceed?

Audetto was appointed as a result of I steered him to Enzo Ferrari! I knew him very effectively as a result of he was my navigator after I was rallying with Lancia within the early Seventies. Audetto labored on the observe however I nonetheless was working on the manufacturing unit in Maranello a couple of days per week. This association lasted till the top of 1977.

How do you keep in mind Niki Lauda right this moment?

Niki and I turned buddies from the time we began working collectively. I really useful Enzo rent him on the finish of 1973. He was a younger driver, I used to be a younger supervisor. We had been very profitable collectively. After I got here again to Ferrari on the finish of 1991, I instantly requested him to turn out to be my advisor. It was a little bit bit like my relationship with Enzo Ferrari again within the early Seventies. 

Niki was the primary one that spoke with Michael Schumacher’s supervisor [about him joining the team], as a result of we didn’t wish to put Ferrari within the entrance line. Niki had these talks on behalf of me. All in all, Niki was the most effective buddies of my life. One can have many good buddies, however finest buddies only some. 

Once you turned president of Ferrari in 1991, the F1 group was within the doldrums, virtually as unhealthy as in 1973. It might take virtually ten years to convey the group again to the highest. How irritating was this era?

In Formulation 1, all the things takes time. Modifications don’t occur the subsequent day. The scenario in 1991 was very, very – I say it 3 times – very troublesome. Ferrari hadn’t received a title since Jody Scheckter in 1979. The organisation, the tradition and spirit had been all in unhealthy form. Formulation 1 was getting into a brand new period within the Nineties with the introduction of composite supplies, plenty of electronics and aerodynamics changing into extra vital. However Ferrari’s tradition was nonetheless very a lot rooted within the mechanical previous, the place the engine and gearbox had been extra vital. 

I needed to change not solely personnel, but in addition push everybody within the group in the direction of modern strategies and supplies, and to construct a wind tunnel. My plan was to have a transparent organisation, the place all people knew their very own duties and tasks, and to rent a couple of proficient folks for aerodynamics and electronics. Our goal was to enhance our outcomes yearly. It’s true that Michael didn’t win the drivers’ championship till 2000, however we shouldn’t overlook that we received the constructors’ championship in 1999. We delivered higher outcomes from 1993 onwards, and from 1997-1999, we solely misplaced the championship within the final race. 

How vital was it to convey Michael Schumacher to Maranello? Wouldn’t it have been potential to realize the title with Alesi or Berger, otherwise you wanted a driver of Michael’s calibre?

I’ve to thank Alesi and Berger for his or her efforts driving vehicles which weren’t that aggressive. We shouldn’t overlook that Berger had a win in Germany 1994, and Alesi received in Canada in 1995. These successes had been indicators that Ferrari was coming again, and so they had been crucial for the morale of the group, and the tifosi, too. 

It was the precise time for Michael to hitch the group in 1996. We already had a brand new group in place with Jean Todt in cost and lots of people behind him who had been proficient and up for a brand new problem. We had the premise for a aggressive automobile, after which we solely wanted a high driver, like Schumacher. We had been certain Michael was going so as to add one thing particular. His first win in Barcelona within the moist was proof of this. And he was already combating for the championship in 1997. 

What made Michael so particular?

Michael was particular behind the wheel, one of many all-time greats in Formulation 1 historical past. However in my opinion, how a driver acts outdoors the automobile can be crucial. And Michael was at all times very near the group. He united the group round him. When he received, he celebrated with the group, and when he misplaced, he commiserated with the group. Not all drivers are like this.

How do you keep in mind the golden years of Ferrari between 2000-2004, when Ferrari received 5 consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championships? 

We had been very dominant throughout that interval. In 2002, Michael secured the championship at Magny Cours, in July. That was tremendous sturdy! Success in Formulation 1 occurs when many various parts come collectively, such because the group construction, workers, working environment, automobile and drivers. On the final level, it’s vital to have a primary and a quantity two driver.  Irvine, Barrichello and Massa had been superb drivers, however Michael was clearly the primary.

I’m additionally very proud that we had been in a position to win with out Michael. We received with Kimi in 2007 and had been very near successful once more in 2008 with Felipe. We are able to say that even with out Michael, Ferrari was very aggressive throughout these years. The group was virtually good by way of personnel, automobile and environment. We hardly had any disagreements as a group. 

I feel that from 1997 to 2009, Ferrari was the very best group by far. We had been additionally very shut in 2010 and 2012, solely shedding the championship with Alonso on the final race. My goal was at all times to take care of Ferrari on the high of the game.

Lastly, let’s flip to the current. How painful has it been so that you can see Ferrari wrestle lately?

For me it’s a huge, huge ache. I used to be with Ferrari for 23 years. That is about half the working lifetime of a median individual. I understand how it must be. As we speak I see a group with out actual management, with out spirit and with out ardour. I don’t wish to see a Ferrari with a livery apart from all crimson [like in Miami this year]. For me it’s a joke.  I used to be instructed that this was for sponsorship functions. However in my time, it was the alternative. Sponsors would pay tribute to Ferrari, not the opposite manner round.

I additionally heard that the choice to rent Lewis Hamilton was made for advertising and marketing causes. I’ve nothing towards Hamilton. I respect him and his file, however I feel Ferrari ought to rent a driver as a result of they’re aggressive and powerful, not due to advertising and marketing. 

It is vitally unhappy to see Ferrari comfortable to realize third place on the rostrum. I anticipate extra, however I’m additionally sufficiently old to know that it’s troublesome in case you are half a second off the tempo in Formulation 1. I wish to see Ferrari combating for the championship! Third is just not our place, we should be first!

In the event you had been to be made President of Ferrari’s race group once more, what would you do in your first day of labor?

I’ve to say that I used to be disillusioned to not be referred to as by anybody at Ferrari after my departure, not even for some recommendation. I left in 2014, which is a very long time in the past now, and Ferrari has by no means been able to win the championship since. 

If I used to be referred to as once more to steer Ferrari, I might summon everybody collectively and inform them that I wish to see enthusiasm and keenness from every considered one of them. I might additionally need everybody to very clearly perceive who’s accountable for what. Everybody should know their roles and tasks, and have very clear priorities. 

Secondly, I might wish to pinpoint the areas of weak point and start engaged on a plan to ship a aggressive automobile and group. Ferrari wants a robust chief, somebody who can’t solely convey the group collectively but in addition struggle for the group in entrance of the game’s authorities.