- Ferrari
Montezemolo has no plans to leave Ferrari
Luca di Montezemolo has denied rumours he is thinking of stepping down as Ferrari president.
Over the Italian Grand Prix weekend, speculation over the future of the Ferrari boss intensified with suggestions that he might stand down as soon as next week. But on his annual trip to join the team for qualifying day at Monza, Montezemolo addressed the press to kill off the speculation and underline his commitment to Ferrari.
"I've heard a lot of rumours regarding myself," he said. "This is often happening in the summer in Italy, maybe this time is a little bit too much. I am working, I am here not to have a vacation, I am here because we are working very hard."
Montezemolo said he intends to see out a minimum of the next three years at Ferrari after making an agreement with the company's board earlier this year.
"We have to improve the team, we have to reorganise, we have to look ahead. So I am very, very busy. I told that I was ready to accept, in last March, three more years to my shareholders and particularly to my people in Ferrari. The men and women in Ferrari to me are the most important part of my life and I took a commitment with them.
"We are preparing an historic record at the end of this year in terms of financial and economic results, Ferrari is facing a fantastic moment. So that's it. If and when there will be some news about me, I will be the first - I emphasise the first - to let you know.
"What I am pleased is to be the chairman of a company that is in 63 countries in the world and with big success and we are working in the next weeks to beat the historic record in financial and economic results and at the end of the day even if I am not happy of the situation today in Formula One, we are the most successful team from 2000 until now. In the last 50 years this is Ferrari and we want to start again to win because it is not good to lose the championship."
Montezemolo said he would be kept busy over the coming year with several projects at the team, including F1.
"We have in front of us very important months, we will present a fantastic new car in the Paris motor show at the beginning of October, we will be in Los Angeles with 600 Ferraris coming from all over the United States to celebrate 60 years of Ferrari and we are preparing a unique, unbelievable car to celebrate this event. Only 10 cars for our best American collectors. We are working with Mattiacci to improve the organisation, to improve Formula One."
Fernando Alonso welcomed the news that Montezemolo is committed to Ferrari.
"I'm happy Luca is staying, obviously we've had a very nice relationship in the last five years. I think President Montezemolo always cares a lot about the atmosphere of the team and the relationship with all the members of the team, especially with the drivers. I talk to him a lot on the telephone a lot in the weekends and not in the weekends. He told me on Thursday night all these rumours were not true so I was aware of this and happy to have him president again."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
