Montezemolo reveals meeting with Senna before Imola

Ayrton Senna and Ferrari. The idea that the two most legendary names in racing working together still gives goose bumps to Formula 1 fans.

Now former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has added another chapter to this story.

On Sky Italia, he reveals: “Ayrton visited me in Bologna the weekend before the tragedy in Imola. He told me that he wanted to drive for Ferrari at all costs and separate from Williams.”

Montezemolo continues: “We wanted to continue with the talks after Imola. Then what happened happened.” Senna lost his life in a tragic accident in the Tamburello corner on May 1, 1994.

READ MORE: THIS IS HOW F1 INSIDER RALF BACH EXPERIENCED IMOLA 1994

The Italian: “Senna should be the ice cream on the cake – like later Michael.”

But Schumacher and Senna together, that would not have worked for Montezemolo. “A nice dream”, he says. “But we would have shot ourselves in the foot. You don’t win with two stars on the same level in a team.”

Already FIA president and former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt had revealed to AUTO BILD MOTORSPORT and our colleague Bianca Garloff in 2017: “Ayrton wanted to drive for Ferrari and Ferrari wanted him. I had a long meeting with him before the Italian GP in Monza in 1993. I was fascinated by the sound of his voice. He said he wanted to drive for Ferrari the next year, so in 1994. But we already had two drivers under contract with Alesi and Berger. He replied: Contracts have no value in Formula 1. My answer: For me, yes. When I called him again to make him an offer for 1995, he refused. At that point he had already chosen Williams.”

With Montezemolo’s statements, the Senna-Ferrari-story takes on a whole new tragedy …