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Luca di Montezemolo claims that he was in talks with Ayrton Senna that could have brought the Brazilian to the Ferrari Formula 1 team when he was killed in 1994.
The Ferrari president revealed on the team’s website that he met with Senna four days before the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He insists Senna was keen to switch to Ferrari and that ways of allowing him to move from Williams were going to be evaluated.
“He wanted to come to Ferrari and I wanted him in the team,” said di Montezemolo. “When he was in Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix, we met at my home in Bologna on Wednesday, April 27. He told me he really appreciated the stand we had taken against the excessive use of electronic aids for driving, which didn’t allow a driver’s skill to shine through.
“We spoke for a long time and he made it clear to me that he wanted to end his career at Ferrari, having come close to joining us a few years earlier. We agreed to meet again so as to look at how we could overcome his contractual obligations at the time.
“We were both in agreement that Ferrari would be the ideal place for him to further his career, which to date had been brilliant, even unique.”
Di Montezemolo also paid tribute to Senna’s approach to racing.
“I always appreciated Ayrton’s style of racing,” he said. “As with all great champions, he had an incredible will to win and never tired of seeking perfection, trying to improve all the time.
“He was extraordinary in qualifying, but also a great battler in the races, when he always fought tooth and nail.”
- David Brabham remembers Imola ’94
- Read more untold stories about the late, great Ayrton Senna in the May 2014 issue of RACER – the 22nd anniversary issue of the magazine – on sale now at newsstands or directly at the link below. Subscribe today at our special discount rate, including the 22nd anniversary issue.
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