Piero Ferrari: “Nice to see Alonso and Massa so close together”

A special debut marked the fifth and final day of the twenty-second edition of Wrooom, the event that traditionally inaugurates the Scuderia Ferrari racing season. Piero Ferrari arrived in the well-known tourist resort of the Trentino Dolomites yesterday afternoon and today met the journalists present at the Chalet Fiat.

“I'm very happy to be here: it's the first time I've taken part in this event and I want to first of all thank Maurizio Arrivabene and Philip Morris who wanted me to join the team here on the snows of Madonna di Campiglio” – said the Vice President of the House of Maranello to the reporters – “We usually see each other on the tracks or in some official press conference but I'm pleased to be able to do it in a different environment like this.”

In the chat we talked about many topics but Formula 1 was obviously the first. To those who asked him if the Scuderia hadn't won for too many years, Ferrari replied: "It's not that it hasn't been won for that long: the last Drivers' title dates back to 2007 and in 2008 and 2010 we were there." came very close. We have gone through much longer and much worse periods of abstinence so I think this question should rather be asked to someone else who is more in a hurry to see results and less patient than myself who has seen a lot in life. For me it is a pleasure to be able to be close to the team, its boss Stefano Domenicali and, obviously, our President Luca di Montezemolo: I have no influence on the decisions they make but only a great friendship because racing is my passion. The future of Formula 1? First of all, I hope that the right balance is maintained between races outside Europe and those in the Old Continent: on the one hand we must not forget that this is a global sport, on the other we must protect the historical heritage represented by certain Grands Prix, such as that of France or the races at Silverstone, Spa and Monza, where we always see fantastic racing.”

“I am happy to see that there is great harmony between our drivers and these opportunities to be together outside of work are very nice” – continued Ferrari – “I have had the opportunity to have dinner with them several times when I am in Maranello and I always remember those moments with great pleasure: we chat about everything freely with great sincerity. I believe that today there are many good drivers and two or three who can be defined as champions and we have one, Fernando. Then we have Felipe who is a very good guy, very fond of Ferrari, who has shown that, even alongside an extraordinary driver like Schumacher, having a good car he too can go fast: it's up to us to put him in the right conditions; perhaps we owe him something.”

There was also talk of Enzo Ferrari's Birthplace Museum: “The works are progressing and the inauguration will be held on March 10th” – he explained – “We will have two points of reference: in Modena a museum on birth and first steps of my father as a driver and as a team manager and in Maranello the Museum on the history of a company that started from nothing in those places and which today has achieved worldwide fame.”

Moving from four to two wheels, Piero Ferrari recalled his great passion for motorcycle racing: “Ducati is always in my heart and the combination with Valentino keeps me glued in front of the television since free practice to follow what happens on the track . Furthermore, there is also a professional relationship through my engineering company which collaborates with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer itself.”