148 replies to this topic

[Cyanide]

Ted Kravitz: "If and when there's something to say I will announce it. But it's not today." (Montezemolo)

 

Seems pretty obvious to me now. 

[Fastcake]

Nothing is confirmed until it has been officially denied.

[GoldenColt]

So Luca will stay at Ferrari and fulfill his contract.

 

Source: Him being interviewed on Austrian TV.

 

Surprise, surprise.

[Vesuvius]

According to TS and their italian sources, Montezemolo will be fired after FIAT tuesday meeting. Ross Brawn apparently has healthy problems and isn't coming back.

[f1rules]

So Luca will stay at Ferrari and fulfill his contract.

 

Source: Him being interviewed on Austrian TV.

 

Surprise, surprise.

 

im sorry, he will not stay on, no matter what he says, his body language said everything today

[Brazzers]

Does anyone have any videos of the LDM interview in English?

 

Cheers. 

[OSX]

So Luca will stay at Ferrari and fulfill his contract.

 

Source: Him being interviewed on Austrian TV.

 

Surprise, surprise.

I gather you haven't been following F1 for very long yet...

 

[OSX]

According to TS and their italian sources, Montezemolo will be fired after FIAT tuesday meeting. Ross Brawn apparently has healthy problems and isn't coming back.

The link to the article.

 

http://www.ts.fi/moo...ain kokouksessa

 

[Cyanide]

So Luca will stay at Ferrari and fulfill his contract.

 

Source: Him being interviewed on Austrian TV.

 

Surprise, surprise.

 

I don't know what Austrian TV showed but basically every reporter is saying the signs are there that he's off. 

 

Plus, you only needed to see his body language in the garage, the wave towards the fans and the hug with Alonso to know he's 100% gone. 

[Yoshi]

They showed an interview with Luca and he said, that he will fullfil his contract, was talking about the good year from Ferrari (road cars) etc.

[SCUDmissile]

https://twitter.com/...261683408953344

 

The signs are there that he is gone.

[blacky]

The strange thing is: why sack him looking at the balance sheet of Ferrari? The financial situation of Ferrari could not be better. Quite the contrary the Fiat-bosses should go, looking at the numbers they published a good month ago...

Edited by blacky, 06 September 2014 - 18:09.

[quasi C]

Marchionne/FIAT want more control? Mattiacci was a Marchionne appointment apparently. I'm of the opinion that Ferrari will be worse off if LDM is forced out and replaced with an FCA man.

 

BTW according to pretty much all Italian media the Brawn thing ain't happening.

Edited by quasi C, 06 September 2014 - 18:13.

[GoldenColt]

im sorry, he will not stay on, no matter what he says, his body language said everything today

 

 

I gather you haven't been following F1 for very long yet...

 

 

I don't know what Austrian TV showed but basically every reporter is saying the signs are there that he's off. 

 

Plus, you only needed to see his body language in the garage, the wave towards the fans and the hug with Alonso to know he's 100% gone. 

 

I'm sorry for sharing everything he said in that interview.

[Gilles4Ever]

Daniel Johnson @danielt_johnson

Comments by Fiat boss, publicly rebuking di Montezemolo, seems like it is only a matter of time now for Fiat president

[GVera]

Good article on this subject on Autosprint (in Italian)

 

http://autosprint.co...ri-unera/18653/

[peroa]

The strange thing is: why sack him looking at the balance sheet of Ferrari? The financial situation of Ferrari could not be better. Quite the contrary the Fiat-bosses should go, looking at the numbers they published a good month ago...

Well, you're right, they are an incompetent bunch with no vision, every company seems to be in a dead end: Lancia, Alfa, FIAT

[Gilles4Ever]

It appears it has nothing to do with finances, all about the lack of performance of the F1 team.


http://www.bbc.com/s...la-one/29112567

Ferrari's Luca Di Montezemolo criticised by Fiat boss Marchionne

The important thing for Ferrari is not just financial results but also winning - and we have been struggling for six years
”
Sergio Marchionne

[quasi C]

Well, you're right, they are an incompetent bunch with no vision, every company seems to be in a dead end: Lancia, Alfa, FIAT

They're in the middle of relaunching Alfa, for example they plan to go head on with BMW 3 series with the new Giulia. Good luck with that.

 

As for what will happen to Ferrari road car division with FIAT more directly involved, it could be a catastrophe for the brand I suppose. Hopefully Felisa will remain in charge there for a while longer.

Edited by quasi C, 08 September 2014 - 17:03.

[SophieB]

It appears it has nothing to do with finances, all about the lack of performance of the F1 team.


http://www.bbc.com/s...la-one/29112567

Ferrari's Luca Di Montezemolo criticised by Fiat boss Marchionne

The important thing for Ferrari is not just financial results but also winning - and we have been struggling for six years
”
Sergio Marchionne

 
 
That interview makes the whole situation seem so odd. 
 

The 67-year-old said he had a contract for three years and that he would be the one to say when he is leaving.
But Marchionne said: "We are good friends but his statements, these are things I wouldn't have said myself."

"I consider myself essential, of course," said Marchionne, "But I also know very well that I am at the service of this company. So to create positions, illusions that one can operate outside the rules, is talking rubbish.
"It's the same for him as it is for me; we serve the company. When the company has a change of plan, or if there is no longer a convergence of ideas, things change."

Bolding mine. So if he now does leave, absolutely everyone will be crystal clear how he has been unceremoniously fired rather than allowing himself to keep some small figleaf of dignity by announcing he's going because he's seeking fresh challenges or whatever.

[BRG]

They're in the middle of relaunching Alfa, for example they plan to go head on with BMW 3 series with the new Giulia. Good luck with that.

 

Yes, just look at the relaunch of Maserati as a direct rival to Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes - that has been a real bust.  

 

Oh, wait a mo, no it hasn't. A friend of mine is on his third Maser and loves them.

[Ricardo F1]

I'm actually surprised that FIAT don't take one of two other routes as Ferrari seems to be performing quite well financially ; firstly just take the F1 responsibilities and any oversight away from Luca and create a dedicated person to report direct to FIAT, or make Luca that man and take away his other responsibilities.  Now either might make Luca quit, but at least it makes him the arbitrator of that decision.

[quasi C]

Yes, just look at the relaunch of Maserati as a direct rival to Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes - that has been a real bust.  

 

Oh, wait a mo, no it hasn't. A friend of mine is on his third Maser and loves them.

I really hope it goes well for them, it'll be a much harder nut to crack though. I'm half Italian so I'm very much rooting for Alfa, 4C is lovely too. Am glad your friend is enjoying his Masers.

Edited by quasi C, 08 September 2014 - 18:24.

[Ferrari2183]

I'm far from happy about this Montezemolo thing. That man's heart beats Ferrari and his blood is Rosso Corsa red. Marchionne is a FIAT man who wants to ride the Ferrari coattails all the way to an IPO which is destined to tank due to poor financial performance.

It's looking increasingly likely that Marchionne wants to service the rest of the groups losses by diluting the Ferrari brand.

If Montezemolo is forced out. It might be the ruin of Ferrari. Enzo must be turning in his grave. Where is Piero in all this?

[aditya-now]

I'm far from happy about this Montezemolo thing. That man's heart beats Ferrari and his blood is Rosso Corsa red. Marchionne is a FIAT man who wants to ride the Ferrari coattails all the way to an IPO which is destined to tank due to poor financial performance.

It's looking increasingly likely that Marchionne wants to service the rest of the groups losses by diluting the Ferrari brand.

If Montezemolo is forced out. It might be the ruin of Ferrari. Enzo must be turning in his grave. Where is Piero in all this?

 

Similar thoughts crossed my mind. While Luca has an unbearable ego, he still is closer to Enzo's vision than the FIAT shenanigans will ever be. Not to speak about stock market values et al....

[Red17]

Luca's departure, if true is the end of an era. Luca was hand picked by Enzo to lead Ferrari and like it or not he did quite well.

 

I have little faith in someone like Marchionne. He is a FIAT man, he will see it just as another brand and not something that needs to the best every day.

 

He was also involved in Dodge's dodgy departure from Nascar (when Dodge was winning and had the best looking Gen6 car).

 

And he is critizizing Ferrari for not winning... wow! Where was in those last 6 years? Is it normal in him to only comment on failures if they last for 6 years?

Edited by Red17, 08 September 2014 - 20:44.

[Ferrari2183]

Luca's departure, if true is the end of an era. Luca was hand picked by Enzo to lead Ferrari and like it or not he did quite well.

I have little faith in someone like Marchionne. He is a FIAT man, he will see it just as another brand and not something that needs to the best every day.

He was also involved in Dodge's dodgy departure from Nascar (when Dodge was winning and had the best looking Gen6 car).

And he is critizizing Ferrari for not winning... wow! Where was in those last 6 years? Is it normal in him to only comment on failures if they last for 6 years?

The poor performance of the race team is the only leverage he's got against Montezemolo because Ferrari continue to go from strength to strength in other areas of the business despite selling less cars in a move to maintain exclusivity.

Ferrari were making huge profits during a recession for crying out loud.

There is a power struggle going on behind the scenes that's for sure.

[Ricardo F1]

Where is Piero in all this?

Wasn't he at Monza watching an absolute disaster?

[Ferrari2183]

Wasn't he at Monza watching an absolute disaster?

He was there but I don't think he was there expecting to miraculously mount a late season title challenge.

I meant where is he on all this Marchionne/Montezemolo craziness.

Edited by Ferrari2183, 08 September 2014 - 21:05.

[Ricardo F1]

I wouldn't expect him to say would you?

[Ferrari2183]

I wouldn't expect him to say would you?

Dont expect him to say but it would be nice to know. He owns 10% of the company.

[quasi C]

He was there but I don't think he was there expecting to miraculously mount a late season title challenge.

I meant where is he on all this Marchionne/Montezemolo craziness.

http://www.omnicorse...ecide-tutto-lui

 

"I'm only a small minority shareholder he [Montezemolo] decides everything."

Is pretty much all he said this weekend.

[HeadFirst]

I',m not now, nor ever have been a fan of Luca, so if he goes ..... fine. Sorry to hear Ross Brawn is not in good health though.

[aguri]

I'm actually surprised that FIAT don't take one of two other routes as Ferrari seems to be performing quite well financially ; firstly just take the F1 responsibilities and any oversight away from Luca and create a dedicated person to report direct to FIAT, or make Luca that man and take away his other responsibilities.  Now either might make Luca quit, but at least it makes him the arbitrator of that decision.

 

The article I read was saying that Luca wanted to keep Ferrari a low volume producer in order to preserve the prestige and mythos of owning a Ferrari, whilst FIAT wanted them to move more volume with less specialised and exotic automobiles. Seems like a pretty fair of LDM to want to preserve the current branding - especially considering the financial success it has bought them. 

[KnucklesAgain]

http://www.omnicorse...ecide-tutto-lui

 

"I'm only a small minority shareholder he [Montezemolo] decides everything."

Is pretty much all he said this weekend.

 

At least he didn't say Marchionne does

[AlexS]

Like others have said , F1 is only a pretext by Marchionne to have an argument with Montezemolo.

 

He doesn't care one yota if the Ferrari wins or not.  Marchionne wants to have it all under control and Ferrari is outside his umbrella. 

 

 

It must be said that new generation of Agnellis & Co. do not care much for car industry. It is not their DNA anymore. We can see it in Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia etc. They are lazy. Making cars from time time not having any continuity as managers without car culture and ideas came and go.

Edited by AlexS, 08 September 2014 - 23:11.

[warp]

I most probably never own a Ferrari. But if I had a shaitload of money and if I wanted a very exclusive car, being a fan of motorsport I would go for the one with the best racing pedigree.

 

Ferrari is just about the only one of the "exotic" brands that still has presence in F1. Heck, it's the most winning F1 team ever...

 

It would be kinda sad if they started to make "lesser" cars for more people to have access to them.... but at the same time, many people would jump onto a Ferrari if they were more competitively priced against an Audi or Porsche. 

 

... and there lies the conflict between Montezemolo and Marchionne.

 

Even if I don't ever will get the chance of own a Ferrari, I would prefer the brand to stay as Luca thinks. It is the way Enzo wanted it. But please, please, leave the F1 team to someone who gets more with current times.

[Ricardo F1]

I believe McLaren have a presence in F1 . . .and you can't get a lot more "exotic" than their road cars!

[warp]

I believe McLaren have a presence in F1 . . .and you can't get a lot more "exotic" than their road cars!

 

True, blunt omission from my part... but do they actually make engines? 

[AlexS]

I believe McLaren have a presence in F1 . . .and you can't get a lot more "exotic" than their road cars!

They don't make cars. They make chassis.

[blub]

Last week the French city of Paris announced that they might sell Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" for a billion dollars to raise needed money, might FIAT sell Ferrari to the highest bidder? I ask you, why not!

[slideways]

This is a very difficult but positive move. LDM has overachieved during most of his reign but he is almost too big of a figurehead, too entwined in all aspects of the company, and too willing to defend it at all costs rather than recognising and owning some key failings that must change if things are to move forwards.

[OSX]

Ferrari's Old Guard Fights Back Against Fiat's Marchionne
9 September 2014

 

 

In his decade at the helm of Fiat, Sergio Marchionne usually gets what he wants, including the $4.35 billion takeover of Chrysler that was sealed earlier this year. But he’s facing a mini-rebellion in Italy over the future of Ferrari, the iconic sports car maker owned by Fiat.

 

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s longtime chief, is heading for the exit after clashing with Marchionne over strategy, according to a report in Bloomberg News that cites comments from people familiar with the situation. Di Montezemelo may leave later this year, although the timing remains unclear and there has been no agreement on a severance package.
 

Full Story: Businessweek...ferrari-fights-back

 

[Timstr11]

https://twitter.com/...595549545541632

[Gilles4Ever]

http://forums.autosp...man-of-ferrari/

[Gilles4Ever]

Autosprint @autosprint

Montezemolo nuovo presidente Alitalia bit.ly/1xipiIO

 

Montezemelo new president of Alitalia

[Disgrace]

Someone deserves some serious journalistic kudos for getting this spot on back in August.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Well at least he can work with Alonso again.

[F1ultimate]

Someone deserves some serious journalistic kudos for getting this spot on back in August.

 

Yeah. Someone had a serious inside scoop. News about leadership changes at publically listed companies are typically kept close at heart.