Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has retaliated following comments made by Sergio Marchionne earlier in the week.

Speaking at the end of year media Christmas lunch, the Ferrari chairman, appeared, without naming anyone, to lay the blame for the team's woeful season firmly at the door of Montezemolo.

"I will try not to talk about 2014 because it has been a year to forget," he said.

"2015 will be a year of reconstruction," he continued. "In the last few days we have made some sharp decisions on the make-up of the team and we know exactly who the key people are for development. We have taken away all the baggage of uncertainty which harmed the start of the work on the 2015 project."

Whilst 2014 was indeed a dreadful year for the Maranello outfit, the first since 1993 in which it has failed to win a single race, it would be wholly wrong to dismiss Montezemolo, who though at the helm during the recent title drought was also in charge during the long periods of success, both on the track and in the showroom. Newly installed as president of Alitalia, he was quick to hit back.

"Dear Marchionne, I don't intend to give in to provocation," he told the ANSA news agency, "but my work and what I won on the track and on the markets with Ferrari deserve respect."

Earlier this week, round about the time Marchionne was making his comments, Montezemolo was re-appointed to the board of F1 as a non-executive director, a move that is also said to have angered Marchionne.

Montezemolo was a non-executive director on the board from 2012 in his capacity as the Maranello outfit's representative.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by F One, 29/12/2014 10:08

"Why can people like him not just go away????"

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2. Posted by gturner38, 26/12/2014 0:36

"So Luca hasn't decided to move on from petty bickering in public that does nothing for anyone's reputation. "

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3. Posted by Ro, 25/12/2014 19:23

"SM is a master of placing all the blame on someone else. Lets wait and see......"

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4. Posted by scf1fan, 25/12/2014 16:02

"Yep, too bad you just can't hire a Todt, Schumacher, Brawn and Burn at the drop of a hat. So I'll give LDM that . . . but then again, he did push Schumacher out for Kimi too . . . And then even more again, we have yet to see if S.Marchionne's first move(s) are a hit or a miss.

(Of course the green flag hasn't dropped yet . . . so you all know what that means! ;-)"

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5. Posted by SideGlance, 25/12/2014 13:57

"Pissing contest of 2 arrogant but talented guys - Piss Piss !!

Marchionne is really hedging against success next year, even claiming the 2015 project is already failed and needing a reboot, but with all the changes how could they not at least fail differently ? Seb has his hands full !! New engine guy, new chassis guy, new tech members - who the hell is the same ?"

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6. Posted by ape, 25/12/2014 12:47

"
Funny"

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Montezemolo hits back at Marchionne

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