F1 Montezemolo: “Hamilton in Ferrari is not marketing”

December 17, 2024 (changed at 01:10) – MILANO

Lewis Hamilton and the red; Ferrari fighting for the 2024 constructors’ title; the memory of Michael Schumacher; the strength of Max Verstappen; sanctions in F1 and much more: it’s a freewheeling Luca di Montezemolo who spoke on ‘La Politica nel Pallone’ on Radio GR Parliament. The former president of the Cavallino begins on a happy note: “Formula 1 has truly become a competition that involves all continents, the 2024 championship was an unpredictable one and finally there is a positive element in seeing Ferrari which at the last GP presented itself capable of winning: if I think of Alonso in 2010 I feel bad, a 4th place would have been enough. This year Ferrari has had ups and downs, but it has improved a lot, fighting until the end for the Constructors’ Championship. The conditions are there for a good championship next year, let’s hope it’s a good one. Then in 2026 we’ll start from scratch.”

hamilton and the red

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Speaking of 2025, the reference to Lewis Hamilton is immediate: “In recent years Ferrari’s problem has not been linked to the drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are strong. Hamilton is a phenomenon like Verstappen: his arrival at Ferrari is not a marketing operation, he wants to end his career by winning in red. On the one hand, the choice of Lewis Hamilton is a risk because you take a champion who has won a lot and who comes to Ferrari to win and on the other there is a Leclerc. that despite doing some he has never won good races and the years go by. It will be a very interesting year for Ferrari, provided that they manage to close the gap with McLaren to start already competitive from the first race, and create a car capable of winning in all conditions and there is also clarity of management within the team.”

verstappen beyond the red bull

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An eye on the 2024 World Cup and who won it. “There are the great champions and then there are the champions like Sofia Goggia in skiing, Federica Pellegrini in swimming, or Jannik Sinner in tennis. In F1 Verstappen is a champion, he has always been very strong even with go karts. This year he has had to ask the maximum of himself: he had a car that was inferior to McLaren and in some cases even to Ferrari.”

the lack of Schumacher

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Looking back, one cannot fail to mention Michael Schumacher: “Michael is the most successful driver in Ferrari history, he is a piece of history and a great absence in my life: I spent unforgettable years with him, on and off the track. I often talk to his wife Corinna, his daughter has become a great champion with horses.”

sanctions in f1

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On today’s Formula 1, extremely vexatious when it comes to audacity and duels, Montezemolo is clear: “F1 is made up of healthy duels: what would they have done in the duel between Villeneuve and Arnoux, would they have put them in prison? I think it’s exaggerating, both in terms of physical contact and in going beyond the lines of the track. Thus Formula 1 is becoming a precision watch: space must be left for emotion, courage and the ability of the drivers who don’t have to watch. millimetres. And one of the points to think about to change things a little.”

briator

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An eye on the past and one on the present with reference to the return of Flavio Briatore as super consultant to Alpine. “Flavio was a rich gentleman, but no one should forget that Flavio worked miracles with Benetton. Luca De Meo made the right choice in hiring him at Alpine, I’m happy for him, even if the road to winning is long: I seen some good races from Gasly, but it’s not enough, but I think that for next year they will also improve.”