Ferrari is arguably the most iconic team in F1 history, and driving for them is often seen as a matter of prestige for even the best in the sport. However, when things don’t go their way, the pressure is huge, which was evident when their founder Enzo Ferrari lashed out at the team and refused to participate in front of the English people.
In the book Ferrari: From Inside and Outside, former team boss Luca di Montezemolo talks about an incident that took place at Brand Hatch. Today, Montezemolo is remembered for being one of the most prominent leaders behind Ferrari’s success in F1, but the incident he is shedding light on dates back to 1973. Back then, he was Enzo Ferrari’s personal assistant.
Enzo Ferrari is described as someone who made racing a part of his life. He was very passionate about what he did, and Ferrari’s success and failure played a huge role in determining his mood. After a disastrous afternoon in Brand Hatch in 1973, Ferrari was absolutely livid with his team.
Enzo Ferrari ordered Luca di Montezemolo to pack up before the race
Brands Hatch was the circuit where Montezemolo first accompanied Enzo Ferrari too. Unfortunately, it did not quite turn out to be a happy outing for them. The Ferrari car was woeful in that afternoon, with the drivers qualifying in P16 and P17 respectively.
An optimistic man would have focused on the race ahead. Enzo Ferrari, meanwhile, was furious and embarrassed to even contemplate racing. He ordered Montezemolo to pack up and leave, stating that he didn’t want to race in front of the English crowd.
‘In the qualifying, Ferrari was 16th and 17th and Enzo called me, saying, ‘Luca, put the cars on the truck and come back to Italy,” Montezemolo wrote. ‘I don’t want to race. I don’t want Ferrari in front of the English Public.’
Thankfully, Montezemolo managed to change Ferrari’s mind and was honest with him. He told Enzo Ferrari that they “cannot” just pull out of a race.
What Luca di Montezemolo learnt from Ferrari’s winning mentality
Ferrari is the most successful F1 team of all time, even though they have gone through some pretty low points in their history. They have a huge fanbase all over the world and this puts them under pressure when they are underperforming.
Montezemolo learnt a very important thing during his time in the team. They are used to the pressure that comes from failure, but Enzo Ferrari taught him to be ‘stronger, unhappier and more demanding’ when he is winning. This is because complacency can lead to downfall, which is something none of them want.
As per Business F1, Luca di Montezemolo could be returning to Maranello in an advisory role once again. He pulled the team out of difficult phases in the past and considering their current situation, the Tifosi would be more than happy to welcome him again.
