Montezemolo admits he misses Schu ‘at times’

Luca di Montezemolo on Thursday revealed he resisted the urge to invite Michael Schumacher to play at a football game.

The seven time world champion is Ferrari’s most successful ever driver, winning five world championships during his 1996-2006 tenure.

But after retiring four years ago, the 41-year-old returned to the grid this year with Mercedes, and the tension between the German and his former camp has been obvious.

“We had beautiful years together and I gave him back his desire to race,” said Ferrari president Montezemolo, referring to the offer of a temporary seat last year to replace the injured Massa, which subsequently became a full return with a rival team.

“At times I miss Schumacher, he gave so much to Ferrari, but he also received a lot,” the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

He then referred to the forthcoming Partita Del Cuore charity football match, to be played in Modena early next week and featuring current Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella.

Said Montezemolo: “A few days ago I was tempted to call him (Schumacher) to ask him to play for us. But as the team carries the Ferrari name, I avoided it.”

(GMM)

0 comments

Other articlesgo to homepage

	Williams: Maldonado a future champ, not ‘pay driver’(0) Last Sunday proved that Pastor Maldonado is no mere ‘pay driver’. “If he was a fool, he would not be with us, no matter how much money he brings,” Sir Frank Williams is quoted by Brazil’s Globo Esporte. Venezuelan Maldonado, whose links to the state owned oil company PDVSA and president Hugo Chavez controversially deliver

	Ferrari say Massa contender for 2013 race seat(0) Ferrari has played down rumours it is close to immediately ousting Felipe Massa, insisting it is possible the struggling Brazilian will still be in a red car next year. On Twitter, the famous Italian team said the latest rumours – including a claim that former Virgin driver Jerome d’Ambrosio is a candidate to replace Massa

	McLaren sure gaffes won’t hurt Hamilton talks(0) Martin Whitmarsh is sure McLaren’s recent errors will not affect contract negotiations with Lewis Hamilton. The British team’s latest mistake not only cost Lewis Hamilton pole in Spain, it put the 2008 world champion to the very back of the grid. Asked if he worries that the now seemingly constant flow of team gaffes will

	Williams denies cigarette caused Barcelona blaze(0) Two days after winning in Spain, Williams is scrambling to put together the equipment it needs to contest next weekend’s Monaco grand prix. Mere hours after Pastor Maldonado secured the once-great British team’s first victory since 2004, a huge fire broke out in the pits, leaving one team member still in a Barcelona hospital with

	Lotus and Sauber set for Barcelona shock(0) Despite not topping a Friday timesheet in Barcelona, one specialist publication sees Lotus as the favourite for Spanish grand prix victory. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the ‘long run’ pace of the black and gold E20 was studied carefully after Barcelona practice. “Kimi Raikkonen made a great impression on the critical soft tyres,” the