Former Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo is in little question as to who he would need driving one among his vehicles had been he nonetheless in cost.
The 78-year-old, headed numerous factions of the Fiat empire earlier than returning to Maranello in 1991 as president of Ferrari, the Italian outfit nonetheless struggling within the wake of the dying of its founder.
In addition to placing the highway automobile division again on its ft, Montezemolo progressively put in place the varied components that may result in the Scuderia’s domination of the game within the early to mid-2000s, appointing the likes of Jean Todt who’s flip recruited Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne and Michael Schumacher.
By way of the precise race crew the Italian had type, in 1974, he had been personally appointed sporting director by Enzo Ferrari happening to overseeing Niki Lauda’s title wins in 1975 and 1977.
Now a director of McLaren Group Holdings Ltd, the Italian just lately accused his former crew of missing management, and certainly criticising the administration construction of the Maranello outfit.
“It lacks a robust, decided soul,” he mentioned. “It’s essential to decide on the appropriate individuals,” he added, “in my day, I had extremely priceless collaborators, quantity ones and quantity twos.”
Talking on the London premiere of ‘Luca: Seeing Crimson’ – yet one more F1 impressed documentary – the Italian doubled-down on his criticism of the present crew.
“If tomorrow morning I will likely be obliged to go to work in Ferrari, in a single week I’ve clear in my thoughts who to place in numerous positions,” he mentioned, opting to not identify names.
Nonetheless, one particular person he did identify was former crew boss Mattia Binotto, for whom he nonetheless has nice respect.
“I’m pleased now for Binotto,” he mentioned of the Sauber – quickly to be Audi – boss, “he’s investing sooner or later with a superb Brazilian younger driver, trying forward.”
Whereas avoiding discussing the present driver line-up, had been he again in cost there is no such thing as a doubt as to who can be sitting in one among his vehicles.
“Right this moment I’ve to say, for me, Verstappen is by far the primary,” he mentioned. “Even within the final race in Baku, troublesome circumstances, he by no means misplaced management. He was all the time fast. He by no means makes a mistake.
“Sainz and Leclerc was an excellent couple,” he added. “However no query, Verstappen is by far the most effective in my opinion… by far.”
