Posted on September 10, 2014.
The following article has appeared on the BBC website
Ferrari’s Luca Di Montezemolo is to step down as long-time chairman of the Formula 1 team.
His departure follows a poor season on the track and disagreements with Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of parent company Fiat.
“This is the end of an era after almost 23 marvellous and unforgettable years,” said Di Montezemolo, 67. “It has been a great privilege.”
Marchionne will replace Di Montezemolo, who leaves the role on 13 October.
Ferrari have not won a drivers’ or constructors’ title since 2008 and are in the midst of their least competitive season for 20 years. The team had their worst result of the year at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday when Fernando Alonso retired with a hybrid system failure and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen finished ninth. It is in stark contrast to their dominance of F1 in the late 1990s and early 2000s when seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher led the team to six consecutive constructors’ championships.
Di Montezemolo had insisted at the weekend that reports he was to step down later this year were premature, adding that he had a contract for three years and he would be the one to say when he was leaving. But he was immediately contradicted by Marchionne, who said: “We are good friends but his statements… these are things I wouldn’t have said myself.”
Marchionne also described the recent disappointing performance of Ferrari’s Formula 1 racing team as “unacceptable” and said it was “absolutely non-negotiable” that Ferrari should win Formula 1 races.
In his statement, Di Montezemolo – who has been Ferrari chairman since 1991 – added: “It is the most wonderful company in the world and it has been an honour to have been its leader. I devoted all of my enthusiasm and commitment to it over the years. Together with my family, it was, and continues to be, the most important thing in my life.”
Under Di Montezemolo’s tenure, Ferrari increased revenues 10-fold and tripled sales volumes as the Italian family business grew into one of the world’s most powerful brands.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, 83, said: “I first met Luca in 1973. So yeah, it’s a pity. We’re going to miss him. His leaving is for me the same as Mr Enzo dying. He has become Ferrari. You see him, you see Ferrari. You don’t see anything else. You don’t see Luca.”
