Piero Ferrari: “Michael Schumacher changed the way we work at Ferrari”

Ferrari is paying a grand tribute to Michael Schumacher during this 2026 Monza Grand Prix weekend. Thirty years ago, the unforgettable German driver won his third Grand Prix in red here in the Royal Park (the first was in Spain in 1996, the second in Belgium), the Ferraris driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are painted in the same livery as Schumi’s 1996 race car, and today’s drivers are wearing special overalls featuring distinctive symbols, such as seven stars representing Schumacher’s seven World Championship titles.

Before the action gets underway on the historic Monza circuit, Piero Ferrari (81) – son of the legendary company founder Enzo Ferrari – spoke about the great Schumi.

Piero Ferrari looks back: “At the start of the Schumacher era, Ferrari was not yet in a position to regularly compete for victories, but Michael still managed to achieve outstanding results thanks to his exceptional qualities.”

“His victory at Monza in 1996 is a perfect example of this: it was a performance worthy of a great champion – at a venue that holds special significance for Ferrari. I believe that day was also of great significance for the relationship between Michael and the fans. He’d only been with Ferrari for a few months and had already won in Spain and Belgium, but the victory at Monza in front of that crowd helped to forge a bond that would grow ever stronger in the years to come.’

“Michael understood what it meant to drive for Ferrari, and how important that was to our fans, and I believe that is also why he became such an important part of their history and held such a special place in their hearts.”

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With Michael Schumacher, a different mentality emerged within the Ferrari team. Piero Ferrari continued: “Yes, that’s true. In Michael’s day, there was a fundamental change in the way we worked. Up until then, the development of the car had been based mainly on the driver’s impressions, his feedback and the technical data gathered on the track.”

“Michael, however, went one step further: he also began to analyse his own behaviour in the car. I remember that he would take the telemetry data home with him to analyse every detail of his driving style, to understand where he could improve, and to identify the sections of the circuit where he could make a difference. This highly methodical, data-driven approach had a profound impact on the culture at Ferrari and is still reflected today in certain processes within the team.”

“Of course, times were very different back then. There were far more test sessions, and all that analysis helped to prepare as thoroughly as possible for practice, qualifying and the race. Today, the regulations severely restrict testing opportunities, but the principle remains the same. Michael demonstrated how important it was to examine every detail, to use data as a tool for improvement, and to prepare with the utmost care – even away from the racetrack. I believe this ability to analyse one’s own work and constantly seek ways to improve is one of the most significant legacies he has left to Ferrari.”

Of course, for Piero Ferrari, Monza is not just another Grand Prix weekend: “Every time we come to Monza, I am particularly struck by the warmth of the fans. Monza has always been a special place for Ferrari, and there’s always an expectation that the team can achieve something special – no matter how the season has gone up to that point. The unique atmosphere of the circuit, the support from the fans and the passion you feel here create a special energy for the whole team and spur everyone on to give their best, including the drivers.”