Thursday November 4th, 1999

Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo, revealed today that he personally ordered Michael Schumacher to return to racing for the last two races of the season. Speaking to The Times, di Montezemolo told reporter Kevin Eason that after Schumacher declared himself unfit to race, he called the German's house in Geneva to check his progress. Schumacher's daughter, Gina-Maria, answered the phone and told di Montezemolo that "daddy was getting out his football boots." Di Montezemolo said he realized that if Schumacher was fit to play football, then he was surely fit to race.

"When evaluating Schumacher, I am extremely fond of him," Di Montezemolo said. "From time to time, he is temperamental. Schumacher is a very sensible person but I got extremely angry with him. If he wanted to test, why did he not want to drive?"

Di Montezemolo also refuted accusations that Ferrari did not back Eddie Irvine's title challenge. "I did my best to make sure Irvine had the best conditions he could have," he said. "There were rumours about Irvine and Ferrari not helping him, but how can people think that? I would like to make it clear that the stories about a boycott of Irvine are a personal insult." He also revealed that he offered Irvine a two million pounds bonus if he won the drivers' championship.

Di Montezemolo also spoke about the alleged favouritism the team chief, Jean Todt, had exercised towards Schumacher at the expense of teammate Irvine. "He is very much in love with Schumacher and I have told him he is wrong," Di Montezemolo said. "I expect we will have two very strong drivers [next season] and I expect Todt to support both of them. Barrichello will stimulate Schumacher and I do not expect him to be a butler or servant to Schumacher."