“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 atr Ferrari, having come close to joining us a few years
earlier.”
Tributes will continue to pour into today to Senna, with a series of
commemorations at Imola, northern Italy. Drivers will attend a special
service at Tamburello corner, where Senna was killed.
Di Montezemolo added: “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.”
Many have enjoyed speculating on how Senna’s career would have unfoled had he
not died in 1994. Those close to him have said he planned to end his career
at Ferrari, and he could have added several more world championships to his
three in the years after his death.
“I always appreciated Ayrton’s style of racing,” di Montezemolo
added.
“As with all great champions, he had an incredible will to win and never
tired of seeking perfection, trying to improve all the time.”