Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has hit back at comments made by his replacement Sergio Marchionne this week.
Di Montezemolo stepped down from his role at Ferrari after 23 years and was replaced by parent company chairman Marchionne, who has begun restructuring Ferrari’s F1 operations in the hope of getting them back to the front.
Whilst discussing 2015, he blamed decisions “made by others” as the cause for their recent poor results as well as problems which might hurt them next year.
Di Montezemolo believes the comments were directed at him and described them as “gratuitous and unfounded accusations”.
“I did not intend to fuel this argument, for the deep love I have for Ferrari, for the respect deserved by those who work there now and who had worked and won there in the markets and on the circuits,” he told the ANSA news agency.
“These past weeks, however, I have heard reiterated, gratuitous, and sometimes unfounded accusations. I don’t want to fall for such provocations.
“The sporting successes, more numerous than those gained by any other team, the strength and prestige the brand has built in the world, and the financial results that have been fundamental for the FCA group and that this year are the best in the history of the company, speak for themselves.
“I trust that Christmas will calm down spirits and bring better judgement.”
