A Passionate Ferrari Fanboy
Paolo Barilla, the vice president of the renowned Italian pasta company bearing his family’s name, has an unwavering passion for the legendary Scuderia Ferrari.
His childhood dream was to “win in Formula 1.” At 64, the youngest son of the Barilla dynasty reminisces about his youthful aspirations at the iconic Italian Monza circuit, near Milan.
Monza Memories
“This circuit is where my dreams were born,” Barilla shares with AFP ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
- First memory: Attending the 1,000 km Monza race in April 1974 with his brother Luca, despite the rain, making it a magical day.
- A few weeks later, he witnessed his first Formula 1 Grand Prix, where both Ferraris driven by Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni had to retire, a challenging experience for any Ferrari fan.
A Racing Champion
At 14, Barilla began karting, a necessary step towards Formula 1. He became the Italian champion the following year, sharing moments with a young Ayrton Senna.
“He set an incredible standard in driving, racing, and performance,” Barilla recalls.
After progressing through promotional categories to Formula 2 in 1982, Barilla decided to halt his pursuit due to poor results.
Transition to Endurance Racing
Unable to advance to Formula 1, Barilla turned to endurance racing. In 1985, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Porsche 956 for Joest Racing.
“It was a magical, unexpected, and magnificent moment. But I still wanted to race in Formula 1,” he recalls.
Barilla finally achieved his dream in 1989, debuting in Formula 1 with Minardi (now Racing Bulls). In his second race, he outpaced future world champion Nigel Mansell in the US.
“I was lucky to get ahead of him when he was with Ferrari,” Barilla chuckles, recalling the moment 35 years later.
However, facing drivers like Senna, Prost, and Piquet proved challenging, leading Barilla to leave mid-season, aware of his limitations.
A Difficult Transition
“I had no interest in staying in Formula 1 as a commentator or professional,” Barilla states. “I wanted to be a driver, that’s all.”
Beyond racing, Barilla desired to work with his brothers in the family business.
Embracing the Family Business
Starting as an employee in the multinational founded by his father, Barilla became vice president alongside his brothers Luca and Guido (who became the group’s president) after their father’s death.
“It was difficult to transition from the adrenaline-fueled, high-expectation world of motorsports to the slower pace of the business world,” Barilla admits.
Now, simply a racing enthusiast, Barilla has found new success as a partner in Formula 1 this year.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What was Paolo Barilla’s childhood dream? To win in Formula 1.
- Q: How did Barilla’s family background influence his career? His father knew Enzo Ferrari personally, and Barilla supported Ferrari drivers.
- Q: What led Barilla to leave Formula 1? He realized his limitations and decided to focus on the family business.
- Q: What is Paolo Barilla’s current role? He is a partner in Formula 1 and vice president of the Barilla pasta empire.
