Felipe Massa Interview.

It's nearly time to say farewell. At the end of the year, Felipe Massa and Ferrari will go their separate ways in racing terms, but the affection that links the Brazilian to the team with which he grew up, as a driver and a man, will always be strong. That is clear from what Felipe had to say in an interview with Andrea Cremonesi in an interview in today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, as part of the build up to the 2013 Finali Mondiali, which gets underway today and goes on until Sunday at the Mugello circuit. The event will also serve as tribute that Ferrari wishes to pay to Felipe, who as stated in the headline to this story, will always be a Ferrari man.

Ten years at Ferrari, a racing life. Only Michael Schumacher wore the red race suit for longer than Felipe Massa, who leaves Maranello at the end of the year. Wearing that red suit, the Brazilian came within touching distance of taking the world title in 2008, but he also almost lost his life at the 2009 Hungarian GP.

The party in Mugello will feature the final huge Ferrari crowd: how will you feel going to the event in Tuscany?

“With happiness in my heart, because it will be wonderful to salute the fans to thank them for all the years we have spent together. They have always supported me, even in the most difficult times.”

Eight years as race driver: what’s the secret to staying such a long time at Ferrari?
“I have always behaved honestly and have given my all in my work on the track, with the engineers and in the factory. I think I have always acted very professionally.”

Do you remember your first day?
“It was early 2001 and I had come off the back of a season in F. Renault with Cram: I went to meet Jean Todt in a jacket and tie. Very tense and I was shaking.”

The best moment of this long adventure in red?
“Definitely 2008 when I came that close to the world title, with many wins and poles. But the day that will always stay with me was the one of my first win in Brazil (2006.) For a Brazilian to win at home is like taking the championship. Remember Senna? When he won in Interlagos he was happier than when he won the championship! I learned to race in Interlagos, I grew up there: to win there in a Ferrari wearing a green and yellow suit (not the usual red one, Editor’s note) was the best moment of my life.”

How do you explain to a youngster joining the FDA what it means to be a Ferrari driver?
“Mm, well first that it's hard to get in! Because the selection of drivers is a tough process and it’s already a privilege to be part of the reds. And then, driving for this team means always being under the spotlight, you must always push to the maximum without worrying what people will say about you. It’s like being in a National football team, driving for Ferrari is like being in the Italian football team or playing for Selecao. You have to be prepared.”

After the accident in 2009, did your priorities in life change?
No absolutely not. Only that now I value life more. Because you always think nothing can happen to you and then…”

Stefano Domenicali said that he always considered you as a world champion after 2008. Did you sense that?
“100% yes. I deserved the title, taking into account the season and everything that happened…”

Sebastian Vettel took his fourth title this year: are those titles more down to him or his team?
“It is 100% down to him and his car. Because it’s true he drives the quickest and most consistent car. But then it’s he who manages to extract its potential, who takes pole, who puts 6 tenths over on everyone, including his team-mate! He’s a fantastic driver.

Let’s play at defining the men who have been your bosses, starting with Luca di Montezemolo.
“He is a big hearted person, and an able promoter. He knows how to describe and sell the idea of Ferrari. He is the right man for the job of president and I’m not just talking about the racing. He has an enormous aptitude for representing the company.”

Jean Todt.
“My best teacher. I first knew him when I was 19 and he has been the most important person in my career.”

Stefano Domenicali.
“Definitely a friend, we have grown up together at Ferrari.”

Rob Smedley, his race engineer.
“He has played an important role in my career. When I first raced for Ferrari my race engineer was Gabrielle Delli Colli, but things didn’t go as they should have done and so I chose Rob who was there at the start and was with the test team (he came from Jordan, Editor’s note.) He knows me 100%.”

You have had many team-mates, which was the strongest?
“Fernando. Schumacher was as quick, but in terms of intelligence, Alonso is better because he manages to put everything together perfectly.”

Ferrari started 2013 strongly but then it stalled.
“At the start of the year, the car was competitive, but the mistake was that we didn't manage to develop it as we should have done and as others did. The performance difference in this final part of the championship is down to a car that was not developed in the right way.”

Are you already thinking what you will do after F1?
“I love racing, it’s part of my life and makes me happy. Maybe after F1 I’ll try my hand at some other category.”

Which ones would you like?
“DTM or Brazilian Stock Cars.”

Webber has decided to race in Prototypes?
“I have no experience of endurance racing, however if they managed to get more top teams involved it could become interesting.”

Ferrari posts significant gains at the nine month period.

• Revenues: 1.711 million euro (+6.7%)
• Trading profit:  264.2 million euro (+20.2%)
• Net profit: 178.8 million euro (+23%)
• EBITDA: 454 million euro (+15%)
• Record industrial net cash position: 1.350 million euro
• Homologated cars delivered:  5,264 in line with 2012
• A new company is being created to manage brand-related activities

The Ferrari S.p.A. Board of Directors met today under the chairmanship of Luca di Montezemolo to examine the financial results for the first nine months of 2013.

Ferrari’s strategic decision announced last May - to reduce volumes and maintain exclusivity while also increasing revenues - has already begun to yield its first results.  While deliveries to the dealership network have remained largely unchanged (5,264, three less compared to the first nine months of 2012), revenues have increased by 6.7 per cent to 1.711 million euro.

Trading profit jumped by over 20 per cent to 264.2 million euro as did net profit to 178.8 million euro (+23 per cent).

The company’s industrial net cash position has reached new historic record level and, on September 30th, stood at 1.350 million euro, despite an on-going commitment to heavy investment in product development which has resulted in the company’s most complete and innovative range ever, as demonstrated by the models launched in the first nine months of the year: LaFerrari, the first hybrid which represents the ultimate expression of technological innovation, performance and futuristic styling, and the 458 Speciale, an extreme V8-engined berlinetta with Ferrari-patented electronic dynamics controls and aerodynamics.

Ferrari’s industrial net cash flow for the period was 281 million euro.

These results are the fruit of an excellent product mix (12-cylinders accounted for 25 per cent of sales thanks to the consistent success of FF and higher F12berlinetta deliveries), an increasing contribution from all the services for customers, such as the Atelier and Tailor Made personalisation programmes, restoration of classic cars, along with continuing, significant turnover from Brand activities.

Markets

Sales continue to grow (+8 per cent) in the USA and Canada to 1627 cars, and it is foreseen that deliveries will increase moderately up until the end of 2013 to avoid excessively long waiting lists.

In Europe, the UK (+15 per cent, 580 cars delivered) is yielding very gratifying results, thanks in part to the arrival of the right-hand drive F12berlinetta. Deliveries to Germany were down by 3 per cent (520 cars) in line with the plan announced earlier this year. Italy remains a marginal market due to restrictive fiscal policies, and now accounts for less than 3 per cent of total sales with just 145 cars delivered to dealerships.

Sales were excellent in the Middle East (+40 per cent, 382 cars) and Japan  (+17 per cent, 250), while Greater China (People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) is very much a two-sided coin.  Deliveries to end clients are on the up but deliveries to the network are falling: in fact, the latter have been reduced by 139 to 427 cars. This decision was influenced by two factors: the need to main the brand’s exclusivity on traditional markets, such as Hong Kong, and to take a more cautious position on the People’s Republic of China where rises in taxes on luxury goods may be in the offing.

“I am very satisfied with the results for the first nine months of 2013,” declared Luca di Montezemolo. “They are the fruit of our constant focus on exclusivity, which guarantees significant returns for our shareholders as well as growing numbers of services for clients. The revenues from personalisation programmes and Ferrari Classiche’s activities ably demonstrate this fact and the latter will receive an additional boost when a dedicated centre for collectors opens in the US. We have also maintained our high level of investment in product development and employment: in fact, this year we have already taken on 200 new staff.”

Brand

The Board of Directors also sanctioned an important decision with regard to our Brand-related activities (licensing, franchising retail, e-commerce) which, because of their specific nature, require a different management approach to car manufacturing. As a result, a New Co, 100 per cent controlled by Ferrari, will be set up to deal with all of these activities and guarantee improved, more dedicated operations management.

In the meantime, our Brand activities as a whole continue to deliver positive results. Retail revenues have increased by 17 per cent while licencing is up 3 per cent, thanks to important new partnerships with Electronic Arts and Codemasters, who now flank the well-established licence-holder Microsoft, strengthening the company’s presence in the Electronics & Multimedia sector

Lastly, e-commerce revenues rose by 18 per cent as the Prancing Horse continues to expand its presence on social networks with almost 13 million “likes” for Ferrari’s official pages.