Montezemolo: In F1 you have to have humility

With Ferrari enduring one of its worst seasons in history, Luca di Montezemolo is advising the team’s current bosses to be more humble humility while calling for respect for Sebastian Vettel who is keeping a positive attitude in very tough times for the Scuderia.

Montezemolo was unceremoniously deposed as president of Ferrari, in what can only be called a coup, by FIAT big boss Sergio Marchionne who took the role as Maranello chief in the process and also put Maurizio Arrivabene in charge of the team – two individuals with no experience of running a F1 operation in charge of the sport’s most popular and famous team.

Marchionne was full of noise and bluster when he took charge, expecting wins and demanding results as if the sport is an exact science; thinking that pumping in money, shuffling here and shuffling there, hiring, firing and instilling “an atmosphere of fear” would do the trick. But since he took leadership of Ferrari the silverware cabinet has been decidedly bare.

Only three of the all important winner’s trophies to show for since Marchionne’s arrival on the scene. All three won last year thanks to the fruits of the previous management and engineering team.

This year, the fruits of the new cabal have yet to produce a win. Their drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel – with five world titles between them – forced to toil around in a sub-standard pieces of kit, compromising their reputations as they over drive a car (and package) that is seriously flawed.

History shows that Montezemolo was part of Ferrari’s golden era of the seventies, team principal during the Niki Lauda heyday. He also assembled the most formidable dream team in the history of the sport – Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt and Ross Brawn – led the Reds during their most successful spell ever.

So when Montezemolo talks about the team, that is very close to his heart, it’s worth listening. Not just F1 fans and readers but also the guys trying to run the leaking ship that is Ferrari today.

In what was a clear swipe at Marchionne’s style of management, Montezemolo told RTL, “In F1 you have to have humility to know that you cannot win overnight. If you are unsure of being able to win, you should not say that you will win.”

“Be patient, help people to improve the situation. We have to have confidence in the team and put it in the best position to get the most out of it.”

It is no secret that former Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali was a big fan of Vettel and, along with Montezemolo, should be given credit for enticing the German away from Red Bull. The fact that the German arrived when the pair that courted him first were out the picture was just down to timing.

Marchionne signed the big cheques to get Vettel to the team, but the spade work was done long before he and the Marlboro Man were in the picture.

With Vettel coming under fire recently, not only from the Italian media but also from Arrivabene himself, Montezemolo warns, “It’s important to have a driver who is positive in difficult times. Vettel showed from the start that he is Ferrari in his heart.”

Indeed the Italian media are increasingly negative about the situation of the team that carries the nations sporting hopes and whose success or failure impact the country’s national psyche like no other racing team.

Corriere dello Sport pulled no punches as they reported on another frustrating weekend for the Reds, this time at the United States Grand Prix: “Red Disaster. Light at the end of the tunnel seems far away.”

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