Piers Ward was with the tifosi as Michael Schumacher stepped out of his F1 car for the final time and into an FXX
Michael Schumacher is even closer to Ferrari than most would imagine. That much is clear from the tears that stream down Luca di Montezemolo's face as Schuey steps from a Ferrari F1 car for the very last time, after a demo drive at the Finali Mondiali at Monza.
It's clear too from the huge number of fans who have come here to say their goodbyes to him; at least 45,000 of them.
So it's not surprising that Ferrari built the last FXX especially for Michael. In black. With a thin red line circling the edge of each wheel, and with his logo stitched into the seats.
Originally, Ferrari had only planned to build 10 cars and to invite their most loyal customers to participate in what was billed as an exclusive development project. That number grew to 29... and then Schuey put the phone call in.
As he faces retirement, he has become at least as involved in the project as every other FXX owner. But as befits the most successful F1 driver in history, his FXX is more exclusive than the others'.
It's more black for starters - there were reports that Schumacher's FXX was going to be in stealth matt-black, which would have really convinced all bearing witness here that he has impeccable taste, but it trundles out of the pit garage in metallic black, with a healthy sheen to it.
Schuey's is the only car with matt-finished exhausts though, the others having polished pipes. Other than that, and those seats and wheels, his car is pretty much identical to the rest. Which is as it should be, because Herr Schumacher will be providing much the same sort of data for Ferrari's engineers as every customer will be expected to.
The FXX programme is a contender for the greatest marketing coup the world has ever seen. Ferrari has managed to make customers part with huge sums of cash (sums still treated as confidential) to own an 800bhp-plus car that they won't have free rein to drive.
Arrivederci
Not on the road or in a race, at any rate. And what's more, Ferrari could have doubled the number of owners, thanks to the level of interest. Those who did join this elite club are set to contribute valuable feedback to assist with the development of the car that will form the replacement for the Enzo.
But the tifosi are here to see their hero, the next Enzo can be pondered over on another day. It's truly amazing to see how they're reacting to Schumacher.
I watch him, di Montezemolo, Felipe Massa and Jean Todt go on a pit-straight walkabout and the noise is just incredible. Flares are set off and air horns blare, like at any Italian football match. It takes an age for this little group to walk the length of the grandstand, then even longer for Schuey to get into his F1 car for the last time, but no one seems to mind.
There are a few background entertainments, such as parachutists floating in carrying either an Italian or a Ferrari flag draped below them, and again the crowd doesn't pay much attention - apart from when one damn nearly lands on Schumacher's car.
There's no doubting how much love is on show here, both between the fans and Schumacher and between Schumacher and the Ferrari team itself, but I can't help but wonder if he's almost become too big.
The whole Ferrari ethos is about the family; that no single man, other than di Montezemolo, takes too much of the spotlight. When Schumacher finally steps from his FXX after a few rapid laps and rushes into the pit garage, hordes follow him. His car is abandoned, looking forlorn in the pit lane.
Of course, this weekend isn't just about the FXX, or even just about Schumacher. Ferrari has done wonders, turning itself into an iconic, global brand; luxurious, high-tech, exclusive. And this weekend is a celebration of all that, a chance for the fans to get close and an opportunity for the customers to bask in a sea of reddish-orange.
The FXX project is one part of Corse Clienti, the division that includes the Ferrari Challenge for clients who want to go racing and F1 Cliente, for the elite band of owners who run historic F1 cars with factory back-up.
The Finali Mondiali is a huge end of season get together for everyone involved in Corse Cliente, watched by the tifosi.
Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari's new MD and an engineer who has been heavily involved in the FXX project, has joined the celebrations this weekend. He's pleased that Schumacher has taken such a close involvement in the day, and in the direction that the FXX project is set to take.
"He will always give us a strong opinion of what to expect," says Felisa. "Not solely as Michael Schumacher, but now also as a normal driver."
PICS:
Schumacher seemed pleased with his gift from Ferrari - better than a carriage clock, eh?
There's heart-felt fan worship, and then there's just plain weird. That line, crossed here...
Out of the red and into the black... That's not to imply that Schuey's short of cash, of course
Feeling the love and overcome with emotion. Michael looks, er, the same as ever really...
Ferrari built the last FXX for Michael. In black. With a thin red line cicling each wheel edge
Schuey's is the only car with matt-finished exhausts... the others have polished pipes. Nice
The Tifosi: there's no doubting how much love is on show here, but has Schuey got too big?
Hang on a minute... where did that spring from? It's not red or black. Is that allowed?
SOURCE: Top Gear
Michael Schumacher is even closer to Ferrari than most would imagine. That much is clear from the tears that stream down Luca di Montezemolo's face as Schuey steps from a Ferrari F1 car for the very last time, after a demo drive at the Finali Mondiali at Monza.
It's clear too from the huge number of fans who have come here to say their goodbyes to him; at least 45,000 of them.
So it's not surprising that Ferrari built the last FXX especially for Michael. In black. With a thin red line circling the edge of each wheel, and with his logo stitched into the seats.
Originally, Ferrari had only planned to build 10 cars and to invite their most loyal customers to participate in what was billed as an exclusive development project. That number grew to 29... and then Schuey put the phone call in.
As he faces retirement, he has become at least as involved in the project as every other FXX owner. But as befits the most successful F1 driver in history, his FXX is more exclusive than the others'.
It's more black for starters - there were reports that Schumacher's FXX was going to be in stealth matt-black, which would have really convinced all bearing witness here that he has impeccable taste, but it trundles out of the pit garage in metallic black, with a healthy sheen to it.
Schuey's is the only car with matt-finished exhausts though, the others having polished pipes. Other than that, and those seats and wheels, his car is pretty much identical to the rest. Which is as it should be, because Herr Schumacher will be providing much the same sort of data for Ferrari's engineers as every customer will be expected to.
The FXX programme is a contender for the greatest marketing coup the world has ever seen. Ferrari has managed to make customers part with huge sums of cash (sums still treated as confidential) to own an 800bhp-plus car that they won't have free rein to drive.
Arrivederci
Not on the road or in a race, at any rate. And what's more, Ferrari could have doubled the number of owners, thanks to the level of interest. Those who did join this elite club are set to contribute valuable feedback to assist with the development of the car that will form the replacement for the Enzo.
But the tifosi are here to see their hero, the next Enzo can be pondered over on another day. It's truly amazing to see how they're reacting to Schumacher.
I watch him, di Montezemolo, Felipe Massa and Jean Todt go on a pit-straight walkabout and the noise is just incredible. Flares are set off and air horns blare, like at any Italian football match. It takes an age for this little group to walk the length of the grandstand, then even longer for Schuey to get into his F1 car for the last time, but no one seems to mind.
There are a few background entertainments, such as parachutists floating in carrying either an Italian or a Ferrari flag draped below them, and again the crowd doesn't pay much attention - apart from when one damn nearly lands on Schumacher's car.
There's no doubting how much love is on show here, both between the fans and Schumacher and between Schumacher and the Ferrari team itself, but I can't help but wonder if he's almost become too big.
The whole Ferrari ethos is about the family; that no single man, other than di Montezemolo, takes too much of the spotlight. When Schumacher finally steps from his FXX after a few rapid laps and rushes into the pit garage, hordes follow him. His car is abandoned, looking forlorn in the pit lane.
Of course, this weekend isn't just about the FXX, or even just about Schumacher. Ferrari has done wonders, turning itself into an iconic, global brand; luxurious, high-tech, exclusive. And this weekend is a celebration of all that, a chance for the fans to get close and an opportunity for the customers to bask in a sea of reddish-orange.
The FXX project is one part of Corse Clienti, the division that includes the Ferrari Challenge for clients who want to go racing and F1 Cliente, for the elite band of owners who run historic F1 cars with factory back-up.
The Finali Mondiali is a huge end of season get together for everyone involved in Corse Cliente, watched by the tifosi.
Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari's new MD and an engineer who has been heavily involved in the FXX project, has joined the celebrations this weekend. He's pleased that Schumacher has taken such a close involvement in the day, and in the direction that the FXX project is set to take.
"He will always give us a strong opinion of what to expect," says Felisa. "Not solely as Michael Schumacher, but now also as a normal driver."
PICS:
Schumacher seemed pleased with his gift from Ferrari - better than a carriage clock, eh?
There's heart-felt fan worship, and then there's just plain weird. That line, crossed here...
Out of the red and into the black... That's not to imply that Schuey's short of cash, of course
Feeling the love and overcome with emotion. Michael looks, er, the same as ever really...
Ferrari built the last FXX for Michael. In black. With a thin red line cicling each wheel edge
Schuey's is the only car with matt-finished exhausts... the others have polished pipes. Nice
The Tifosi: there's no doubting how much love is on show here, but has Schuey got too big?
Hang on a minute... where did that spring from? It's not red or black. Is that allowed?
SOURCE: Top Gear
hyeah: !