When Montezemolo talks about Ferrari, it's best to take note and, above all, know how to read between the lines.

Whether you like it or not, Luca di Montezemolo is the most important person in Ferrari's history after the founder himself. Under his presidency, the company was revived from the moribund situation it found itself in at the beginning of the 1990s, and the Formula 1 team enjoyed the greatest period of glory in its history. The lawyer also made mistakes, and some of the Scuderia 's current problems stem from his time. But it's undeniable that his diagnosis of the Italian team's failure was a testament to his It couldn't be more accurate.

"I saw the beautiful images of the tifosi at Monza and then a team that, despite so many announcements on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix , hasn't won a single race to date. And even if it had won a race, Ferrari after all these years would have to fight for the World Championship . I hope things change for the fans." Montezemolo made these statements from the heart of a Ferrari fan , and he's absolutely right. But when it comes to criticism, he has to be very careful with his words .

When Montezemolo was unfairly dismissed as Ferrari's president in 2015 , after 23 years of service, he received a hefty severance package of €27 million . As is normal in these situations, there is an obligation not to work for competitors, but above all, to remain silent . Any criticism directed at John Elkann , the Agnelli family, or Sergio Marchionne (the real instigator of the dismissal) invalidates the agreement and carries heavy penalties.

At the EXOR group, the financial holding company of the Agnelli family, owners of FIAT and majority shareholders of Ferrari, they know very well that if Montezemolo lets his tongue slip, the damage he could do is terrible. It's true that an open confrontation with John Elkann , the current leader of the empire, wouldn't suit Montezemolo either, because his media and political influence in Italy is very powerful, hence the non-aggression pact . That's why it's important to read between the lines of our friend Luca .

Lack of leadership

"We lack leadership and soul at Ferrari," Montezemolo added. "What I regret today is seeing a Ferrari that has no leader, there is no leadership, and above all, I see that it lacks a strong and determined soul. Announcements are made that often create excessive expectations. But results must come first, and then we make the announcements." A good portion of the media has interpreted these words as a criticism of Frederic Vasseur, but nothing could be further from the truth. The arrow points higher.

The targets of this lack of soul and leadership are Benedetto Vigna and, above all, John Elkann , but for the reasons mentioned above, Montezemolo is careful not to name them. It's clear that Vigna isn't exactly someone who ignites passions, and the heir to the Agnelli empire often makes one wonder if he's really someone who likes cars. Let's face it: Ferrari, on a business level, remains as successful, if not more so, than when Montezemolo was president, but the Formula 1 team is a different story .

To guess what Luca di Montezemolo really thinks of John Elkann, it is best to refer to the words of his close friend and lifelong business partner, Diego della Valle : "Poor Yaki - Elkann's nickname - tries hard to remind us every day that he is a complete idiot ", declared the owner of the Tod's company without filters, in the years that the leader of the Agnelli family fired his friend from Ferrari. Elkann, apart from not having the character to stop Sergio Marchionne , the late CEO of FIAT , always distrusted Montezemolo .

It's worth noting that the relationship between patriarch Gianni Agnelli and Luca Montezemolo was almost father-son. Agnelli knew that neither his son Edoardo nor his daughter Margherita (John Elkann's mother) were up to the challenge of major business ventures. Back in 1973, Agnelli saw his nephew Cristiano Ratazzi 's friend as the right person to position alongside Enzo Ferrari . He had bought his company and needed someone he could trust at the Commendatore 's side.

Family misgivings

In the mid-seventies, Montezemolo, along with Niki Lauda and Mauro Forghieri, was the architect of the Cavallino's return to glory after one of its worst periods. Having achieved his goal with the racing team, Agnelli brought Montezemolo to other areas of the company, until in 1991 he decided to appoint him as president of the Maranello company , which had been rapidly decaying at a sporting and industrial level since the death of Enzo Ferrari . Luca knows what he's talking about , but he was always seen as an intruder by a good part of the family.

"His leadership and entrepreneurial approach will further strengthen Ferrari." This is what John Elkann declared when he appointed Benedetto Vigna as Luca di Montezemolo's replacement. This barb is no coincidence, therefore . And even less so when he underlines what he considers to be the huge mistake of dispensing with someone from the company like Mattia Binotto . "Ferrari at least used to reach the final race of the championship fighting for the title, but that hasn't happened for many years." And he's right: Ferrari is further from winning today than it was four years ago .

It's true that Montezemolo made a glaring business error by not correctly interpreting what was happening in Formula 1 in the post-Schumacher era . He thought the same team and tools as in the glory years were suitable for a Formula 1 that, by regulation, had nothing to do with it. Ferrari's competitive advantages of unlimited testing, a preferential partnership with Bridgestone, and free electronics required changes that Red Bull saw fit to make, but he denied them to Stefano Domenicali .

What is certain is that Montezemolo, throughout his professional career, has demonstrated a knack for learning from his mistakes. Under pressure from Domenicali and, to a certain extent, from Fernando Alonso , he undertook reforms that should have been done much earlier, but ultimately bore fruit. He also made mistakes with the appointment of Marco Mattiacci and a few other things, but it's not unreasonable to say that, under his leadership, Ferrari would have been champion again a few years ago. That's why, even if you have to read between the lines, it's always important to listen to him. He knows what he's talking about .