Montezemolo Joins McLaren's Board?

A major shakeup in the world of supercars: Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, one of Ferrari’s most iconic figures, is now listed as a director at McLaren Group Holdings Limited — the parent company of McLaren Automotive.

Who Is Luca di Montezemolo?

Montezemolo isn’t just any executive. He’s the man who turned Ferrari into a modern supercar empire. A close associate of Enzo Ferrari in the 1970s, Montezemolo returned in 1991 to take the reins of the company, guiding both the Formula 1 team to dominance and revitalizing Ferrari’s road car division. During his leadership until 2014, Ferrari produced icons like:

F355
550 Maranello
F50
Enzo
599 GTB
458 Italia
F12berlinetta
LaFerrari

Under his watch, Ferrari became both a racing powerhouse and the gold standard for luxury performance cars.

What Is He Doing at McLaren?

Recently, a sharp-eyed Reddit user spotted Montezemolo listed as a director for McLaren Group Holdings Ltd on the UK’s official company registry (Companies House). This entity oversees McLaren Automotive, the British brand’s supercar arm.

So far, there’s no indication that Montezemolo will be involved with the McLaren F1 Team, which remains under the control of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth-backed McLaren Group. But his role at the automotive side of the company is a big move — especially considering Ferrari and McLaren’s deep-rooted rivalry.

Why McLaren Needs a Ferrari-Grade Fix

McLaren Automotive has faced significant challenges in recent years — from shaky finances to leadership instability. That’s where Abu Dhabi-based CYVN Holdings comes in. They bought into McLaren Automotive in 2023 and merged it with their EV startup Forseven. Last month, CYVN also installed Nick Collins, ex-Jaguar Land Rover R&D chief, as the new CEO of McLaren Automotive.

Now, adding Montezemolo to the board signals a clear ambition to rebuild McLaren — using the Ferrari playbook. Few people alive understand how to turn around a premium car brand like Montezemolo.

Ferrari vs. McLaren: From Track to Boardroom

Ferrari and McLaren have battled on racetracks for decades. In the 2000s, Ferrari dominated under Montezemolo’s leadership with Michael Schumacher at the helm. Now, decades later, Montezemolo may be helping McLaren close the gap—not with speed, but with strategy.

If he applies the same blend of brand building, product curation, and exclusivity that he brought to Ferrari, McLaren’s future could look dramatically different.

Luca di Montezemolo joining McLaren Automotive’s board is more than a personnel change — it’s a symbolic moment in supercar history. Ferrari’s legendary boss might now help revive Ferrari’s fiercest rival.

And if history is anything to go by, McLaren could soon produce a new generation of road cars that redefine what a British supercar means — just like Montezemolo did for Italy.