Di Montezemolo thanks the fans for their support

The president of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, issued a message of gratitude towards the team’s fans after this difficult start to the 2009 season.

In the absence of points scored during the first three races – Australia, Malaysia, and China – Kimi Räikkönen ended this rough patch with a sixth place in Bahrain, followed by Felipe Massa in Spain, thus placing Ferrari in seventh position in the championship.

Di Montezemolo, working with Ferrari since 1973, released the following statement from the team’s headquarters in Maranello:

« Dear friends,

I want to personally thank you for the numerous messages of support we have received from around the world over the past few hours on our website and by email. It is important to know that we can count on the support of our fans around the world and that our fans share the motivations that led us to make such a decision. If we are forced to leave the Championship in which we have been a part of for the last 60 years of our history, and where we have broken all victory records, it is because they want to change the nature of these fundamental values.

If everything remains as it is, then our cars will be present in other competitions, where, and I am absolutely convinced, they will find the enthusiasm and passion of millions of fans, supporting us in every corner of the world. Competition is part of Ferrari’s DNA, and it’s something that will never change.

Luca di Montezemolo »