'Never Satisfied': Montezemolo on Enzo Ferrari's relentless drive

Remembering Enzo Ferrari, 35 Years later

Last week marked 35 years since the passing of Enzo Ferrari, the legendary founder of the iconic Italian sports car company that still bears his name.

In a recent interview, former Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo shared personal reflections on his relationship with the motorsport pioneer and national icon.

According to Montezemolo, Ferrari was a true champion who "created a legend out of nothing."

Taking a chance on young talent

He described Ferrari as "forward-looking and courageous," evidenced by his willingness to take chances on young, unproven talent.

This included Montezemolo himself, who Ferrari shockingly appointed as Formula 1 team principal in 1972 at just 25 years old with no prior experience.

As Montezemolo tells it, their partnership began after he called in to a radio show to defend Ferrari against criticism.

Impressed by his ardent support, Ferrari reached out to offer him the F1 leadership role.

"The man was like that, forward-looking and courageous," Montezemolo stated, noting he likely got the job over more seasoned candidates based on his passion and potential rather than his resume.

Teaching the value of perseverance

Montezemolo credits Ferrari for teaching him "never to be satisfied" and always striving for the next win.

"Do you know what I find unfortunate? That they are now cheering for third place, like at Spa."

"That's not the way Ferrari is, and the Old Man would never have accepted that, never."

"[Enzo] Ferrari taught me a lot. As an example, he taught me never to settle. After a win, he was always thinking about the next race."

Demanding but playful

Montezemolo also highlighted Ferrari's more playful side, sharing an anecdote about his dislike of summer holidays and phones in the office.

According to Montezemolo, Ferrari wanted his full commitment as leader, once forcing him to work through his August vacation rather than take time off.

Though demanding, Montezemolo emphasized Ferrari’s importance as an innovator and Italian symbol, stating “Ferrari is a feeling, it is a human and social value in its territory.”

The Ferrari feeling

He expressed hope current struggles wouldn’t tarnish Ferrari’s legacy, saying the team should always be "protagonists, not extras."

"Charles I would definitely want to keep, he is good and in my opinion, there are no stronger drivers than him available at the moment."

"But who is currently driving the red car is the final problem. When I was the president, I created a Dream Team with [Michael] Schumacher, [Jean] Todt, [Ross] Brawn and [Rory] Byrne."

"Today... look, as a fan, I don't dream of a Ferrari that always wins, but that always fights for the title right up to and including the last race of the season, like in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2010 and 2012."

His memories paint a picture of an uncompromising, forward-thinking visionary who took chances on talent and valued hard work.

These traits allowed Ferrari to build more than just cars - he built a legend that endures decades after his passing.