Károly Méhes catches up with legendary former Ferrari staff boss and govt, Luca di Montezemolo, to debate his time on the Scuderia and the way he would repair the staff’s present woes.
This 12 months 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 provided you the position of supervisor of the Ferrari System 1 staff 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 staff. He appreciated my recommendation and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he advised me that I used to be able to take the job as a staff 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 staff 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 very troublesome state of affairs, it was simpler to some extent than taking on a profitable operation. We managed to realize massive issues shortly. 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 position at FIAT in 1976 and changed as supervisor of the Ferrari F1 staff by Daniele Audetto. Wasn’t it disappointing for you to not proceed?
Audetto was appointed as a result of I instructed him to Enzo Ferrari! I knew him very effectively as a result of he was my navigator once I was rallying with Lancia within the early Nineteen 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 tip of 1977.
How do you keep in mind Niki Lauda right this moment?
Niki and I turned associates from the time we began working collectively. I advisable 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 change into my marketing consultant. It was a bit of bit like my relationship with Enzo Ferrari again within the early Nineteen 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 associates of my life. One can have many good associates, however finest associates just a few.
While you turned president of Ferrari in 1991, the F1 staff was within the doldrums, nearly as unhealthy as in 1973. It might take nearly ten years to deliver the staff again to the highest. How irritating was this era?
In System 1, every little thing takes time. Modifications don’t occur the following day. The state of affairs in 1991 was very, very – I say it thrice – 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. System 1 was coming into a brand new period within the Nineteen Nineties with the introduction of composite supplies, numerous electronics and aerodynamics changing into extra essential. However Ferrari’s tradition was nonetheless very a lot rooted within the mechanical previous, the place the engine and gearbox had been extra essential.
I needed to change not solely personnel, but additionally push everybody within the staff in the direction of revolutionary strategies and supplies, and to construct a wind tunnel. My plan was to have a transparent organisation, the place everyone knew their very own duties and obligations, and to rent a couple of gifted individuals for aerodynamics and electronics. Our purpose 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 essential was it to deliver Michael Schumacher to Maranello? Would it not 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, they usually had been crucial for the morale of the staff, and the tifosi, too.
It was the fitting time for Michael to hitch the staff 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 gifted and up for a brand new problem. We had the idea for a aggressive automotive, after which we solely wanted a high driver, like Schumacher. We had been positive 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 preventing for the championship in 1997.
What made Michael so particular?
Michael was particular behind the wheel, one of many all-time greats in System 1 historical past. However in my opinion, how a driver acts exterior the automotive can also be crucial. And Michael was at all times very near the staff. He united the staff round him. When he received, he celebrated with the staff, and when he misplaced, he commiserated with the staff. 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 System 1 occurs when many various components come collectively, such because the staff construction, employees, working environment, automotive and drivers. On the final level, it’s essential 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 capable of win with out Michael. We received with Kimi in 2007 and had been very near profitable once more in 2008 with Felipe. We will say that even with out Michael, Ferrari was very aggressive throughout these years. The staff was nearly excellent when it comes to personnel, automotive and environment. We hardly had any disagreements as a staff.
I believe that from 1997 to 2009, Ferrari was one of the best staff by far. We had been additionally very shut in 2010 and 2012, solely shedding the championship with Alonso on the final race. My purpose was at all times to keep up 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 in recent times?
For me it’s a massive, massive ache. I used to be with Ferrari for 23 years. That is about half the working lifetime of a median particular person. I understand how it needs to be. Right now I see a staff with out actual management, with out spirit and with out ardour. I don’t wish to see a Ferrari with a livery aside from all crimson [like in Miami this year]. For me it’s a joke. I used to be advised that this was for sponsorship functions. However in my time, it was the alternative. Sponsors would pay tribute to Ferrari, not the opposite method round.
I additionally heard that the choice to rent Lewis Hamilton was made for advertising causes. I’ve nothing towards Hamilton. I respect him and his report, however I believe Ferrari ought to rent a driver as a result of they’re aggressive and robust, not due to advertising.
It is rather unhappy to see Ferrari glad 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 System 1. I wish to see Ferrari preventing for the championship! Third shouldn’t be our place, we have to be first!
If you happen to had been to be made President of Ferrari’s race staff once more, what would you do in your first day of labor?
I’ve to say that I used to be upset 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 fervour 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 obligations, and have very clear priorities.
Secondly, I might wish to pinpoint the areas of weak spot and start engaged on a plan to ship a aggressive automotive and staff. Ferrari wants a powerful chief, somebody who can’t solely deliver the staff collectively but additionally battle for the staff in entrance of the game’s authorities.
