Sergio Marchionne quote in the WSJ regarding F1

That was true from 1947 to about 1965 - 66 ish... In 63 he started to get "sponsorship from Shell Italia - then became Agip, along in 67 he started to get subsidies from FIAT and then a complete 50% sell to them in the late 60's.

From 1947 to 1965 = Enzo financed the racing team through the sale of road cars and machine tools... the equation moved from mostly machine tools to road cars, ending in 62 - even though he still held license / rental agreement with the company that bought out his machine tool business. the deal with FIAT is what secured the Racing Team.

in 1969-70 with F-1,LeMans, Can AM, Hill climb, and Championship for Makes - nearly broke Ferrari. FIAT had to speed up the subsides to him in order for him to survive. The Trade unions also at that time were difficult and cost him $$$$. FIAT basically said that after the 313P(b) Championship for Makes winning season (1972 - 73) they were done with sponsoring all the racing and that F-1 was the market to stay involved in. Ferrari wanted to stay and he had cars for 74 but that is when FIAT put its foot down....

Ferrari basically leased the Road Car factory to FIAT - who manged the day to day biz, they paid him a royalty on the trademark logos, and he collected a "profit share" from the business personally. FIAT also paid an annual subsidy for the racing team, and Enzo had Executive authority over cars produced etc... as President and Chariman... but his real focus was racing so unless there was money involved, he usually did not get involved much after the mid 70s ... however when it came time to negotiate with Suppliers for F-1 and road cars... he was there... Goodyear, Speedline, ATE, Michelin, Brembo, etc... he had a say on that being brought in as suppliers to the road car factory... and got paid for all those products.

Fiat also used the Factory for Building various FIAT Cars - FIAT Dino's and even painted tractors in the same factory up until about 1978 - 79.

 

What was the name of Ferrari machine tool?

 

Very true back in the day, but try telling that to shareholders. Ferrari is now more than ever a corporation that has to meet and exceed financial performance goals.

 

this is a good thing no? Doesn't Ferrari have the highest F1 budget of all the teams? (I am open to being wrong here) - I mean certain things money can't solve...something obviously is making them lose, and I doubt money is the main reason.

 

Exactly. If you continue to spend and spend onky to produce the same results, obviously thats not the problem.

 

Money buys engineering.

Nothing can buy leadership.

 

When $1.00 spent on F1 yields $.50, a shrewd manager, like Sergio, stops spending the dollar. After all, it's the quarterly profit statement that matters to the manager and the
markets.

 

Understood.

My response to DF1 was regarding the fact that the Ferrari brand of automobile's inception was to allow Enzo to fund his racing. Otherwise, "Its not a good thing to race fans but Ferrari is a business not a race team...is it.", the Ferrari "business" (probably?) might not even exist.

P.S. I don't remember a "313"...I do know the 312PB ran '72-73

 

Correct and worrying at the same time. No doubt Ferrari is no longer the company it was, thanks to the float.
Pete

 

So true!

 

Ferrari doesn't need F1. F1 needs Ferrari.

 

I disagree.


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Enzo was!!!

 

Would I miss Ferrari? Sure. But I still could love F1.

I understand your point regarding the tifosi, but, "my" team folded long ago (the real Team Lotus; and really, before literally, when Colin passed) but I still kept my passion for F1. ('til, about, the last 15-10 years ago changes that have been taking place). It's the technology that that was the major enticement to me, not just a team or driver. 'Still could be my passion, but fer the rules of engagement, not the rules of the tech.

 

That's an axiom that could be tested.

The same was said when Ferrari withdrew from Le Mans and endurance in general.

 

De Montezemolo was very good for the Scuderia during Lauda's time, and later to Ferrari as a car maker when he came back as CEO.

But his last move was to emasculate the racing team after the Schumacher era.

So, his influence has been varied, to say the least

 

Yes. His big mistake was Italiano Ferrari... Risiorgemento..... had terrible consequences for Ferrari. When Jean Todt left - major mistake.

 

HAAS ??

 

You've got me curious. Initial search response, fromm Wikipedia:

"In September 1939 Enzo Ferrari left Alfa Romeo under the provision that he would not use the Ferrari name in association with races or racing cars for at least four years.[1] A few days later he founded Auto Avio Costruzioni, headquartered in the facilities of the old Scuderia Ferrari.[1] The new company ostensibly produced machine tools and aircraft accessories.",

The search continues...stay tuned.

 

Enough for my curiosity, an excerpt from a piece by The Italian Tribune (embolding, mine):

"With the remarkable history of the Ferrari brand, it is fascinating that his first car was essentially built in secret and away from the prying eyes of his former masters at Alfa Romeo. The Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 did compete, as planned, in 1940 Gran Premio Brescia della Mille Miglia (a one-time substitute for the traditional Mille Miglia). One of the 815s dominated its class and ran as high as 10th overall, but ultimately, both retired with mechanical failures. This is not at all surprising, considering the remarkably short time period that Ferrari had to produce the cars. They were clearly worthy of further development, but Italy’s entry into the war extinguished such plans. The 815s were the last cars Ferrari would work on for years. Italy officially entered World War II on June 10, 1940. Ferrari survived the conflict by producing oil-driven grinding machines and machine tools. Two years into the war, the government issued an order for Italy’s industries to decentralize. Ferrari moved the Auto Avio Costruzioni works from Modena to Maranello, which is still the home of Ferrari."
Part 17 Auto Avio Costruzioni | The Italian Tribune

So I presume, Auto Avio Costruzioni. :shrug: