Montezemolo: 23 years in one day

It was a day that no one will easily forget. The Prancing Horse fans will not forget her. The women and men who work at Ferrari will not forget her. And he, Luca di Montezemolo, will not forget it, who after 23 years has communicated to everyone his decision to leave the presidency of the company.

A day that started very early, under a light rain that soaked Maranello and its most famous factory. Even before the agencies, around 8.50, broke the news of his resignation, Montezemolo had met the directors of the company, to communicate his choice by looking them in the eyes. And he did it together with Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, who will succeed him after October 13, what the lawyer defined as "my last day of school".

The public announcement instead took place at 14pm in a packed joint press conference at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. In front of around seventy journalists from television, radio and print media from all over the world, trying to contain his emotion, Montezemolo explained that, having finished an important cycle, and in view of a new and different season which foresees the listing of FCA on Wall Street, it was right to pass the baton.

The President recalled these "23 years that have passed very, very quickly", thanking all the Ferrari workers and in particular those who were closest to him: the vice president Piero Ferrari, the managing director Amedeo Felisa and the director of Human Resources Mario Mairano. There were also special words for Jean Todt and for the driver who brought the Prancing Horse back to great triumphs after a long fast, Michael Schumacher. Just as Montezemolo wanted to remember Emilio Botin, not only president of Santander, sponsor of the Scuderia, but also a personal friend and great Ferrari fan. And there was no shortage of affectionate thoughts for the many fans, who never stopped loving the team even in the most difficult moments.

There was space for other memories, such as those linked to Enzo Ferrari's call in 1973 to become sporting director of the team that would bring Niki Lauda to the title in 1975 or those of the tears of Gianni Agnelli, happy for Schumacher's World Championship in 200 There was space for jokes with Sergio Marchionne, from advice on how to dress ("but obviously I didn't listen to him", joked the Fiat CEO) to rumors linked to his professional future ("I could go to run a major automotive group in Detroit,” said Montezemolo). There was space to reiterate the uniqueness of the brand and its link with the territory ("a Ferrari cannot exist outside of here", reiterated Marchionne) and to announce the great innovations that we will see at the Paris Motor Show and in Los Angeles, for a great celebration planned for the 60 years of the Prancing Horse in the United States.

Once the press conference was over, Montezemolo returned to the factory, where he met the heads of the production department. And if before, in front of the press, he had managed to hold back his emotion, there, in front of his "his" men, a few tears were seen.

The President then returned to the office to personally respond to the many messages that reached him from all over the world. And to work. Because “the last day of school” is not today.