15.09.2011

He has a reputation for being tough, and he is, it goes with the job. We are at Monza, Ferrari’s home Grand Prix, and their press officer is as busy as he can be. But for this interview, he even lets us choose the time. What’s more, on arriving for the appointment with a smile, he asks Antonio Lobato (La Sexta’s host) and Luis García Abad (Fernando’s manager), who were having coffee with me while I waited, to stay. They accept, amused. But they ask him to do the interview in Spanish. He does, although for some answers he had to use English. You can see Luca has been living for a year and a half with a Spaniard.

 

-Hello Luca, how are you? I shall talk to you in Spanish because I’ve learnt that you have started or are going to start to learn our language…

No, not yet, I’ll begin to study it next week.

 

- I can see that Fernando’s influence is such that it even reaches Ferrari’s press officer…

(He laughs) No, I simply believe that from a personal and professional point of view it is important to know other languages. Especially from a professional point of view because languages are important in order to improve our relations with the Spanish media. It is true that we are Italian and it is easier to understand each other, but it is also true that this way, it will be more professional and I will be able to understand what you write and say on TV.

 

-How do you manage the press at your home Grand Prix (Italy)? Because I imagine that everyone wants to do things with Ferrari.

The truth is that from the media, interview organization and press conference point of view, the Italian Grand Prix is not so different from the other Grands Prix. What is different is the number of secondary activities and the number of guests we have. We have the honour of having our President here and that raises a lot of interest from the media, as you have seen today (Luca Cordero di Montezemolo came to the circuit on Saturday and it is true that there was a great stir and during the press conference for the media there was no room for anyone else). It is not stressful since it is a pleasure for us, but there is more pressure.

 

-Alonso does not give a single interview that has not been approved by Luca Colajanni, so we journalists say that you are a little bit like Ferrari’s boss…

(He smiles) No, it isn’t true. I only try to organize and have rules that apply to every member of the team and this means that all the “on the record” contacts with the media have to go through the press department. It is a rule enforced to protect the team, not to go against the media or to forbid anyone to talk. In an ideal world it would be great if everyone could interview everyone whenever they wanted to, but it is obvious that we do not live in an ideal world. And we are all aware that if you are at Ferrari, then you are the centre of attention, more than anywhere else. Every word that comes from Ferrari will have a greater impact than if it is said by someone else. This is why, unfortunately, my job is to try to control everything. I know that sometimes, not so much in recent years, I have been seen as a sort of policeman, but that’s how things are.

 

- You’ve been at Ferrari for 20 years, a whole life, but it still looks as if you are enjoying it as much as the first day…

Well, I’ve been at Ferrari for 20 years, but only since 2002 as press officer. Before then, I didn’t travel. And yes, I love this job. I believe that you cannot be in Formula 1 without the passion that this position involves. If you just take this job as a normal one without this view, you will not enjoy what you are doing because of the stress that it involves. There are many problems you can overcome if you really like it.

 

- After so many years, which was the most difficult moment you have experienced?

From a sporting point of view there are clearly two, all the team members who have been here for years will tell you the same thing: Suzuka 2006 and Abu Dhabi 2010 (in Suzuka 2006 Michael broke the engine of his Ferrari, handing the title on a platter to Fernando, and in Abu Dhabi 2010, Fernando arrived at the last race as the series leader but lost against Vettel).

 

-Which one hurt you more?

If I had to choose one, I would say Abu Dhabi 2010, because we had not yet won a world title with Fernando and we did not experience the satisfaction it would bring to win with him. With Michael it was different. Of course, it was sad since it was his last season in F1 and we knew he would not have another opportunity to win. But we had already achieved a lot together and it was easier to overcome.

 

- A curiosity, after the Abu Dhabi race, you were seen to shed a tear and you embraced Alonso in a special way. You have a very special relationship, haven’t you?

It was a very difficult moment, we felt really bad for him, because we all had a fantastic season, some incredible races at the end where he drove without making a single mistake, and then we failed in the last race. We knew all the effort he put in order to win the title and to motivate the team. So it was very sad. But the next day was even worse because I had to stay in Abu Dhabi for Pirelli’s test. You know, when something bad happens, to come back to the same place is horrible. And I know it will be the same this year when we have to go back there.

 

-Is it difficult to control your emotions?

It is not easy. I’m very transparent. Maybe I should be more diplomatic, but it is a weakness of my character.

 

- Three world champions have passed through your hands, which one has been most difficult to work with?

To tell you the truth, none of them, not Michael, not Kimi nor Fernando.

 

-And who has been the easiest?

Fernando (he says it without a doubt). Yes, Fernando because we started a very open relationship from the beginning and I think we get along very well. He never complains or creates problems. With Michael it was a little bit different because I came when Michael was already consolidated in the team and he had his own press officer and it was different. But our personal relationship was very good and I’m very fond of him. And with Kimi I can’t say it was more difficult, but it was different because he is more distant. He was probably the most difficult one because he doesn’t talk a lot, but he is also very transparent, very sincere and straightforward. He is a little bit like me. He didn’t need to say thank you, I knew if I had done a good job, he would be happy. So it was not difficult to work with him either.

 

-Is Alonso very temperamental? Do you often have to calm him down after a bad race so he doesn’t say anything that can be detrimental to him or the team?

I think he has changed since he has been at Ferrari. I have discussed this several times with some of your colleagues. You have been surprised by his behaviour because you expected more criticism towards the team from Fernando. And now, he doesn’t say anything bad against Ferrari. He can say, as he did, that the evolution of the car hasn’t been ideal, but this is an opinion we all share, we are all aware of that and we don’t see it as criticism. We are very open because we have nothing to hide. I can understand that in the past you were used to hearing about the team through the media, but since Fernando has been at Ferrari, he has understood that our main goal is to protect and support him. If he has something to say to the team, he can do it internally.

 

- Truth be told, Fernando has become so Italian that here in Italy they love him…

(He laughs) Yes, it’s true. There are still many Schumacher fans, but we’re very proud of Fernando and of this special relationship he has with Italy.

 

- And talking about passion, which makes you suffer the most, football (with Inter Milan) or F1?

Now I try to watch a football match featuring Inter, my favorite team, without using the remote control when things go badly because I immediately become nervous. I don’t have that option with F1, I have to follow a bad race whether I like it or not. I don’t know what would be my reaction if I watched it on TV. Maybe now I suffer more with F1.

 

-Would you like to be the Press Officer of a football team?

I worked in football in the 90’s, during the Italian World Cup, but I didn’t do anything similar to what I do nowadays. And since I know myself, I know that I could only be Press Officer of one team, my favorite team, Inter. But yes, I would like to. In 2003 I had an offer from Inter. The president called me when the F1 season hadn’t finish yet, it was September, and we were in the middle of the fight. I met with Moratti and I thought about it for a couple of days. They wanted me to start almost immediately but then again the F1 season was still on. If they asked me now, I would think about it more thoroughly.

 

-Are you still a fan of Mourinho?

Yes, I think he is a leader as well as a great coach. In terms of personality and nature, I think he’s a good guy and very smart. I admire his ability to express himself in different languages, Spanish, Italian, English and Portuguese of course. I would love to work with him.

 

- Stefano Domenicalli has been reproached precisely for lacking a little bit of aggressiveness, what do you think?

I think it is a mistake to say that because they have completely different jobs. Stefano is a manager, a company executive, not a coach of a football team. He does not have to be aggressive, but when he has had to take important decisions and tough ones, he has. It’s true that not long ago, a strong personality was the usual thing: Jean Todt, Ron Dennis, Patrick Head, Flavio Briatore… Now we are in a different era. I’m talking about Stefano, Martin Whitmarsh, Adam Parr, Christian Horner… These people have to make the machine work. And Stefano can be very tough, but he doesn’t need to show it or to seem aggressive to make the team function. I think he is doing a great job because we shouldn’t forget the results. Ever since he has been in charge of the team, since 2007, we have won one drivers’ championship, one constructors’ championship and we lost two drivers’ championships at the last minute. But since he smiles a lot and he is a nice guy, he is criticized. They are wrong and that shows that the level of superficiality of the media is very high, no offence.

 

- Michael, with whom you worked for many years, celebrated at Spa the 20th anniversary of his first race. Don’t you feel sad to see it pass almost unnoticed?

Yes, for example, I felt sad when he lost a wheel in Q1 and had to start from last position his celebration of 20 years in F1. Luckily, we saw him drive a very good race the next day. It would be nice to see Michael again at his best, but I’m sure that if you gave him a Red Bull, he would be a candidate for a win every weekend. I don’t think he has lost any of his talent.

 

-Do you think Fernando can match him? Although now they are talking more about Vettel…

It is going to be difficult for Fernando but probably it is as difficult for Sebastian. I think Fernando still has time to make it; he only needs us to give him a good car.

 

- How long will we see Colajanni at Ferrari?

Until the president wants me.

 

TEST:

-Coca-Cola or beer?

Coca-Cola

-Another sport besides F1?

Football

-The best sports star of all time?

Pelé

-The best racing driver in history?

Michael Schumacher

-What do you do to relax?

Read

-Where do you like to spend your holidays?

I have three dreams. One I fulfilled by going to Mali. The second, I would love to travel from coast to coast of the United States by car. And finally, I would love to take a year’s sabbatical to travel.

- Adventure or comedy films?

Comedy

-What do you always travel with (apart from clothing, that is)?

My laptop

-What are you afraid of?

Snakes

-When was the last time you were moved?

At Silverstone 2011

-Describe yourself in 3 adjectives

Mmm, I don’t know, maybe you should reply to that… Passionate, emotional and transparent.

 

This is Luca Colajanni, someone who loves his job, who suffers with every race and lives every victory with passion. He is someone who doesn’t hide, who is straightforward, although sometimes we don’t like what he tells us. Because what comes out of his mouth very often is a NO. That is what happens when you have to try to control the media interest that Fernando Alonso stirs up.