The paddock is now in full swing. Just a couple more days, and the cars will hit the asphalt of Albert Park for the first time in this new and exciting season. There are countless talking points: the debut of many rookies, including Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli; Lando Norris’s test of maturity at McLaren; and the all-Red duel at Ferrari.

It is precisely from Maranello that Arturo Merzario begins his careful analysis, speaking in an interview with Italian journalist Mario Salvini for newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. Unlike other observers, the experienced former Formula 1 driver highlights potential tensions between Hamilton (who, along with Max Verstappen, “has something more than the others”) and Ferrari’s golden boy, Charles Leclerc, who will have to “avoid being influenced and stay cautious.”

Australia, Ferrari territory: Charles Leclerc immediately up against Lewis Hamilton
“In Melbourne, I even think [Ferrari] could be ahead of everyone,” explains Arturo Merzario. “But it won’t be an absolute value: it’s a very particular GP on an atypical circuit. The real balance will be seen on true tracks. And it will be very interesting.” – the former Ferrari driver pointed out.

The focus immediately shifts to the Lewis Hamilton – Charles Leclerc pairing, as the Monegasque driver will have to face a seven-time Formula 1 world champion starting with the 2025 season: “Last year, Hamilton was a bit hesitant because he knew he was leaving, the team wasn’t competitive enough to win, and they had obviously already placed their bets on George Russell. This year, that won’t be the case. There will be a whole range of attentions around him, which will inevitably translate into advantages, whether by necessity or simply to justify his arrival. ” – the Italian racing driver and motorsport executive explained.

“That’s why everything will be very difficult for Leclerc. He will have to be very good at not letting himself be influenced and, even more so, at maintaining balance. Certain situations might lead him to take more risks than usual. He will have to be careful and do so only when necessary. He must stay calm and seize every opportunity to do better than Lewis.” – concluded Arturo Merzario, who raced in Formula One from 1972 to 1979.

The post Arturo Merzario backs Ferrari to win in Australia and reflects on Leclerc – Hamilton duel appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

He replied that he felt lucky to still be alive unlike many other drivers who tragically died in racing accidents. However, referring to his overall results in the series, he also wanted to underline that he found himself in the right place at the wrong time several times. In this regard, he brought up current Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charle Leclerc

The comments of Arturo Merzario
“My first car? I didn’t even have a driving licence, I used my brother’s”, Arturo Merzario admitted in the interview for La Gazzetta dello Sport – “Then my parents gave me a Giulietta Spider 1300, luxury stuff. In 1962 I ran my first race there for Scuderia Lario, in Monza. It was the Fisa Cup: out of 32 starters I finished eighth with the car with the radio on. I liked racing and I liked … women. It worked, eh. Just imagine: the others went by bike…”, he says.

Arturo Marzario then explains what his first steps into the racing world were: “When did I realize I could be a professional? At the Nurburgring in 1963. It didn’t seem true that I could drive on the left, without fear of a bus arriving. I beat all the its drivers, and then Abarth hired me. Only that there was the military. I only started in 1967”.

A few years later, in 1969, Arturo Merzario won the European Tourism Championship. A victory that earned him a call to Scuderia Ferrari: “In 1969: it seemed like an unattainable goal. Instead, thanks to my ignorant right foot, I was there. I was a Formula 1 driver, test driver, postman, everything: as was the custom at the time” .

At the time motor racing was not as safe a sport as it is today. When asked if he has ever been afraid behind the wheel of a car, Merzario replies: “Yes, always. Even on the motorway from Milan to here, in Carate Brianza. Let alone in the race. Not afraid of dying. Because if you moeret you moeret, if you die, you die. I was and am afraid of being disabled. The driver who says he’s not afraid is talking nonsense” – he added.

In 1976, at the Nurburgring, Merzario made a heroic gesture: he rescued Niki Lauda from the burning car, saving his life. In this regard he states: “It was one of the moments that mark a life. Mine and his. If Niki lived another forty years it is thanks to Arturo’s madness. Because you had to be crazy to do what I did. I’m a believer, not a practitioner: but I think something told me to stop. Then that Ron Howard made us a completely wrong novel in that film.”

Finally, on his recent commitments: “The last race? In September, at Goodwood. But last year I also did a real race, at the Nurburgring, for the 50th anniversary of BMW motorsport, with the M2. Two laps from the end I was third, I could have gone on the podium at 79. The safety car came out, at the restart they passed me in two… Now I race for the health insurance company, with prototypes and historic F.1s. I have the great fortune of driving the Ferrari of Phil Hill from 1961, Jim Clark’s Lotus 21. What more do I want?”.

The words of Arturo Merzario on Charles Leclerc
“I’ve had it all and more, in my career and in my life. I’m super lucky, just to still be here. From my generation we’re left with Andretti, Stewart and me.” Then he brings up the current Ferrari driver, underlining: “Many times it happened to me to be in the right place at the wrong time. I’m afraid it’s like this for Charles Leclerc too…”.

The post Arturo Merzario looks back on his F1 racing career and makes Charles Leclerc comparison appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

— see videos above —

The post Watch: Arturo Merzario drives Ferrari 156 F1 Sharknose at Nurburgring (2022 video) appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

— see video above —

The post Video: Arturo Merzario drives a 1961 Ferrari Sharknose at Engadin Airport (Samedan) in 2017 appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Watch as Arturo Merzario (Ferrari) and George Follmer (Shadow-Ford) crash in the practice session for the 1973 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix:

— see video above —

The post Video: Arturo Merzario (Ferrari) and George Follmer (Shadow-Ford) crash in practice for 1973 F1 Monaco GP appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

In this video, former Ferrari driver Arturo Merzario recalls saving Niki Lauda’s life after the horror crash:

— see video above —

The post Video: former Ferrari driver Arturo Merzario recalls saving Niki Lauda’s life after horror crash appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

— see video above —

The post Video: Arturo Merzario recalls his emotions and memories of driving for Ferrari appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Several of them appeared optimistic, from Gerhard Berger to Cesare Fiorio, but many were quite harsh in their judgment calling for a drastic change of direction, despite the new technical rules representing a great opportunity.

“As an enthusiast, I am disappointed – commented drastically Arturo Merzario, who drove for Ferrari in the two-year period 1972-73 always remaining a great supporter, in a recent interview for Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport – “The story of the new car no longer stands. There have been so many years since Ferrari has won. It is not acceptable to be satisfied with finishing fourth and fifth with big gaps as compared to the top. Unfortunately, these are moments of crisis and I ran into them too: one year Ickx, comparable in class to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, did not qualify at Silverstone. Well, Enzo Ferrari didn’t take it at all well… ”.

Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection from Puma!

“We need a man with a firm hand, a person like Montezemolo, he was the real heir of  Enzo Ferrari, taking up his tradition and improving it – added the former driver – I heard about Jean Todt: his return would be geat but he needs new people, mainly English technicians are needed as happened in the days of Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne. Binotto is right to keep his feet firmly on the ground, the gap with Mercedes and Red Bull is exaggerated. Next year they have to think about winning races but for the World Championship I think it is really difficult.” – he concluded.

The post Arturo Merzario feels Jean Todt’s Ferrari return would be great, ‘but he needs new people’ appeared first on Scuderia Fans.