Luca di Montezemolo joins McLaren board in stunning move
Former Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo Joins McLaren Board
In a development that would have seemed inconceivable in the not-so-distant past, Luca di Montezemolo, the former chairman of Ferrari, has joined the board of McLaren—a historic rival in the world of Formula 1. McLaren Group Holdings, the Abu Dhabi-owned parent company of McLaren Automotive, officially registered Montezemolo as a director on June 27, according to filings with Companies House.
Montezemolo's Storied Legacy
The 77-year-old Italian is a towering figure in motorsport history. Montezemolo first joined Ferrari in 1973 as an assistant to the legendary founder Enzo Ferrari and quickly ascended to the role of team manager just a year later. His tenure coincided with one of Ferrari's most iconic successes, as the late Niki Lauda clinched his first Formula 1 World Championship title in 1975.
Montezemolo's leadership also defined Ferrari’s golden era in the early 2000s, when Michael Schumacher dominated the sport, securing five consecutive world championships between 2000 and 2004. At the time, Montezemolo served as both chairman of Ferrari and its parent company FIAT.
A Historic Rivalry and a Surprising Appointment
The appointment is notable given the fierce historic rivalry between McLaren and Ferrari, the two most storied and successful teams in Formula 1. The rivalry reached its infamous peak during the 2007 "Spygate" scandal, which saw McLaren fined a then-record $100 million and stripped of all championship points after obtaining confidential Ferrari design documents.
Today, both organizations are under different leadership. Montezemolo stepped down from Ferrari in 2014 and has since focused on other ventures. Meanwhile, McLaren Group Holdings, which includes the automotive division and a minority stake in the McLaren Racing F1 team, is largely owned by CYVN—a group backed by the Abu Dhabi government. McLaren Racing itself operates independently, with Bahrain’s Mumtalakat fund as the majority shareholder.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s current team principal, also has ties to Ferrari, having previously worked for the Scuderia. The connections between the two organizations run deep, adding further intrigue to Montezemolo's latest move.
Reactions to the Move
Montezemolo’s decision to join McLaren was met with surprise in Italy, where Ferrari is more than just a brand—it’s a national institution. Sports daily Tuttosport characterized the development as “a slap in the face to Ferrari” in a headline.
Amid the mixed reactions, the former Ferrari boss sought to clarify the nature of his role. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, Montezemolo emphasized that his "heart is and always will be red," alluding to his lifelong connection to Ferrari. He pointed out that his new position pertains exclusively to McLaren's automotive division and does not involve Formula 1.
Context of the Formula 1 Landscape
While McLaren is the reigning Formula 1 Constructors' World Champion, Ferrari has not secured a title since 2008. Notably, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who won his first title with McLaren in 2008, now races for Ferrari.
The move underscores the broader changes in the Formula 1 world, where corporate strategy and global investments often blur the lines of traditional rivalries. For now, however, the storied Montezemolo seems set to apply his expertise to the automotive side of McLaren's operations.
But in the eyes of many, his name will forever spark stories of Ferrari’s former glory, even as he steps into the camp of its greatest rival.
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