16 replies to this topic

[Herbert]

While looking through Gordon Kirby's book about Mario Andretti I found this interesting passage.

Quote: "Early in the 1989 season, Mario received another call from Enzo Ferrari, whose F1 driver, Gerhard Berger, had crashed in the San Marino GP at Imola. (...) "Would you replace Berger at Monaco?" Ferrari inquired. (...) Mario says:" I can´t do you justice." "

Was this divine interference? Enzo Ferrari died on August 7, 1988. So how could Andretti talk to him?

BTW, did Ferrari (the company) really offer Andretti this drive? Or is just wish full thinking on Andretti's part. He was 49 years old in 1989 and his last F1 race was in 1982.

[Matt Hughes]

I seem to remember hearing that Ferrari did offer him the drive, but he wasn't too keen on getting used to an F1 car again around Monaco, and with the then new paddle shifting gear system that the 1989 Ferrari used.

[scousepenguin]

Ferrari offered Mario the drive at Monaco '89 to sub for Gerhard Berger, who had burnt hands in bandages after his fire in the previous race,San Marino.

Mario was highly flattered and wanted to do it but knew that to have a chance at Monaco (a track that requires 2000 gear changes per race) with Ferrari's paddle shift gearbox would need at least one full day of testing. Ferrari did not have time to do so, so he had to turn it down.

[Geza Sury]

I have just finished reading the Mario Andretti book by Gordon Kirby. I have to tell that it was fascinating and the pictures were just wonderful, although I would have liked to read a bit more about certain aspects of Mario's carrier. (Like the circumstances of his one-off drive for Lotus at the beginning of the 1976 season.)

However, did anyone talk to Kirby about this 'rumour' of Mario talking to Enzo Ferrari in 1989? (Which was quite impossible of course.) From where did the author get this fantastic piece of information? Actually with whom did Mario talk from Ferrari? Cesare Fiorio perhaps?

[cheapracer]

Mario was highly flattered and wanted to do it but knew that to have a chance at Monaco (a track that requires 2000 gear changes per race) with Ferrari's paddle shift gearbox would need at least one full day of testing. Ferrari did not have time to do so, so he had to turn it down.

thank you, lovely story of a driver's non-egotistical view of reality. I hold Andretti as one of the greats of all time and that doesn't hurt the picture.

[E1pix]

Yep, I remember hearing this as well.... and Berger's fiery crash was in the same spot at Imola as Senna's death, IIRC....

If the call came from Enzo.... it was XLD (extremely long distance).

[swede917]

If the call came from Enzo.... it was XLD (extremely long distance).

Enzo Anselmo Ferrari February 18, 1898 – August 14, 1988

[E1pix]

Enzo Anselmo Ferrari February 18, 1898 – August 14, 1988

Hope you know I meant no disrespect to the Great Man, founder of my life's favorite team. He died 7 days before our wedding.

His boys taking 1-2 at Monza just after still gives me the chills, as quoted by Wikipedia, "The 1988 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on September 11, 1988 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza. It was the twelfth race of the 1988 Formula One season. It is often remembered for the extremely improbable 1-2 finish for the Ferrari team, and the only race of the 1988 season that McLaren failed to win."

[longhorn]

I've not ever heard about Andretti being approached by Ferrari for Monaco 1989, until now, but I find the idea fanciful & not likely to be true. Whilst I consider Andretti to have been a consumate professional & quick in almost anything at most circuits, he was never that good at Monaco as his results indicate. So why on earth would Ferrari want a 49 year old who hadn't driven an F1 car since 1982 & had never shown any great speed at Monaco, to replace the injured Berger at that race? Kirby doesn't mention it in Mario Andretti - A Driving Passion 2001.

[Geza Sury]

So why on earth would Ferrari want a 49 year old who hadn't driven an F1 car since 1982 & had never shown any great speed at Monaco, to replace the injured Berger at that race? Kirby doesn't mention it in Mario Andretti - A Driving Passion 2001.

Philip, if you look at the first post of this thread, you will see that Kirby indeed mentions this Mario Andretti - Enzo Ferrari conversation in his book, which couldn't have happened, since Enzo Ferrari had passed away the previous year.

[longhorn]

Philip, if you look at the first post of this thread, you will see that Kirby indeed mentions this Mario Andretti - Enzo Ferrari conversation in his book, which couldn't have happened, since Enzo Ferrari had passed away the previous year.

Thanks for that. Yes, I had seen the reference & knew that it couldn't have been Ferrari himself but assumed Kirby was referring to an approach from a senior team member

[Arjan de Roos]

Not sure if Ferrari considered Mario. They did consider publicly to call JJ Lehto to Monaco as he had just stepped up as test driver for Ferrari. The then reigning British F3 champ was however spared from a difficult F1 debut, amongst others the Monaco track and the paddle shift system.
It would have been logical if Ferrari would have called upon Roberto Moreno as he had been test driver with the 639 and in F1 at Coloni for 1989. A case of big Enzo talking (XLD) to a little Enzo.

Unlikely also as Mario was in at CART and in the first season with his son Michael as team mate.

After Monaco Ferrari again considered a replacement in Nicola Larini for Mexico. But Gerhard was of course keen to get back at the wheel asap.

[Nick Planas]

Not sure if Ferrari considered Mario. They did consider publicly to call JJ Lehto to Monaco as he had just stepped up as test driver for Ferrari. The then reigning British F3 champ was however spared from a difficult F1 debut, amongst others the Monaco track and the paddle shift system.
It would have been logical if Ferrari would have called upon Roberto Moreno as he had been test driver with the 639 and in F1 at Coloni for 1989. A case of big Enzo talking (XLD) to a little Enzo.

Unlikely also as Mario was in at CART and in the first season with his son Michael as team mate.

After Monaco Ferrari again considered a replacement in Nicola Larini for Mexico. But Gerhard was of course keen to get back at the wheel asap.

I seem to recall press speculation at the that Ferrari were considering Mario, which is not quite the same thing as Ferrari actually talking to him - I can't recall where I read it (the only thing I can confirm is - it wasn't on the net!), but as a Mario fan I was in equal parts pleased and bemused, because I thought there were plenty of younger chargers who could have done a decent job for them, and by now Mario was 49, unless of course they simply wanted a safe (quick!) pair of hands.

[AleSi]

I seem to recall press speculation at the that Ferrari were considering Mario, which is not quite the same thing as Ferrari actually talking to him - I can't recall where I read it (the only thing I can confirm is - it wasn't on the net!), but as a Mario fan I was in equal parts pleased and bemused, because I thought there were plenty of younger chargers who could have done a decent job for them, and by now Mario was 49, unless of course they simply wanted a safe (quick!) pair of hands.

That´s what I wanted to know. If anyone ever read about it in 89´s magazines / newspapers or it is just rumour from Kirby´s book. I think, it was like - somebody asked someone in ferrari, if they are considering Mario, because he was great in 1982, fans loved him and in 89 he was still pretty competitive. And the answer was like: Well, it isn´t bad idea, we should think about it... that´s the most likely story.

btw, I´m huge Mario´s fan . He´s one of the best for me.

[rallen]

Mario himself, states on the Motorsport Podcast with Peter Roebuck that the Ferrari team asked him

[cheapracer]

So why on earth would Ferrari want a 49 year old who hadn't driven an F1 car since 1982

Because his name is known to every household in America where they sell the most Ferraris.

It's not rocket science.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Enzo Anselmo Ferrari February 18, 1898 – August 14, 1988

That's what I was thinking.....