Former Ferrari F1 boss shocks the racing world with a surprising move to join forces with McLaren, a historical rival in the motorsport industry. Luca Di Montezemolo, the renowned figure who played a pivotal role in Ferrari’s championship successes alongside Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt, has now taken on a new challenge by becoming a part of McLaren Automotive.
Despite his deep-rooted history with Ferrari, including his tenure as chairman until 2014, Montezemolo expressed his unwavering loyalty to the Scuderia while clarifying that his involvement with McLaren Automotive is unrelated to Formula 1. “My heart is and will always remain red,” affirmed Montezemolo, emphasizing his enduring connection to Ferrari as a racing team.
In his new role at McLaren Automotive, Montezemolo will serve as the ninth director on the board of directors, focusing primarily on the road car division of the company. This move comes at a time when Ferrari is striving to challenge McLaren as their closest competitors in the constructors’ championship, albeit still trailing by a significant margin of 207 points.
Montezemolo’s presence at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this year raised eyebrows, especially considering McLaren Group’s majority ownership by Mumtalakat, the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain. The 77-year-old executive was spotted interacting with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, sparking speculation about potential collaborations between the two entities.
McLaren Automotive has undergone recent ownership changes following the acquisition by CYVN Holding, an investment firm based in Abu Dhabi. The restructuring has brought new leadership to the company, with Nick Collins stepping in as the new CEO and McLaren Group chairman Paul Walsh joining the board alongside Montezemolo.
As Montezemolo embarks on this unexpected journey with McLaren, the motorsport community eagerly anticipates the impact of his expertise and experience on the future endeavors of the renowned British manufacturer.
