- Ferrari
Montezemolo leaving is like Enzo Ferrari dying - Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone has compared Luca di Montezemolo's resignation as Ferrari president to the death of the company's founder in 1988.
Montezemolo had been president for 23 years after taking charge three years after Enzo Ferrari's death to help turn its fortunes around. He transformed losses into profits in the road car division and by the end of the decade had ended the F1 team's 15-year drought without a title.
Montezemolo first worked for Ferrari in 1973 when he guided the F1 team to championship success with Niki Lauda at the wheel. Ecclestone, who has often clashed with Montezemolo over the direction of F1, said his resignation will be a big shock for both the team and the man.
"I first met Luca in 1973. So yeah, it's a pity. We're going to miss him," Ecclestone told Reuters. "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."
Ex-FIA president Max Mosley - another old adversary of Montezemolo - said Ferrari had not been the same since Jean Todt left after Michael Schumacher's period of domination in the early 2000s.
"I suppose we're approaching the end of an era in F1, dear old Luca, it started back when we were all so young," Mosley said. "But in truth, Ferrari have never been quite the same since Jean left. If they want to win races again they need to find another outstanding manager."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
