Ferrari claims it was in talks with Ayrton Senna when he died
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 27 April.
"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."
This week's AUTOSPORT magazine - available online and in shops from Thursday May 1 - is an Imola 1994 special, commemorating 20 years since the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger:
The Imola grid looks back
The drivers from the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix recall their experiences from one of motorsport's darkest weekends.
Senna's legacy in Brazil
Brazilian correspondent Lito Cavalcanti investigates how Senna changed Brazil, and how he is still remembered.
Prost on Senna
Senna's great rival talks about how their rift healed in the final months of Ayrton's life.
Berger on Senna
Senna's former McLaren team-mate on how the duo became good friends.
Ratzenberger remembered
Adam Cooper looks back at the Austrian's pursuit of his F1 dream, which ended so tragically at Imola.
Brabham on Simtek
David Brabham reveals he feels lucky to have got out of the 1994 San Marino GP alive.
Analysis: how Imola 1994 changed F1
Edd Straw assesses the way Formula 1 reacted to the deaths of Senna and Ratzenberger.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
How the Senna myth has been transformed
Archive: When the French GP almost produced F1's greatest shock
Why Haas's shocking 2019 should have F1 worried
Leclerc: Ferrari caught out by McLaren's top speed with "controversial" rear wing
Ferrari and Toyota concede WEC drivers' title to Porsche
Jon Noble: Why Ferrari could be a dark horse for the title – but we can't be sure until October
Drugovich lined up for Ganassi IndyCar test later this month
Norris laps landmark LEGO® Technic McLaren P1™ around home of the British Grand Prix
Yamaha: Rivals' choice, 2027 MotoGP rules led to V4 engine development
Verstappen: Ricciardo can reflect on F1 career "anyone could dream of"
The statistical F1 anomaly Verstappen will seek to remedy in Singapore
The hard-to-shift narratives Mercedes needs Antonelli's next steps to dispel
Why Perez is so good in Baku and could still save his 2025 seat
Piastri's brilliance is both saving and causing problems for McLaren
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
