Grand Prix (1966)

Adolfo Celi: Agostini Manetta

Quotes 

• [Addressing Pete Aron at the Ferrari factory] 

  Agostini Manetta : What means far more to me than anything else is: our good name! Our reputation represents desire for perfection of the highest quality. I gamble that reputation gladly, because I have *absolute* faith in every car that leaves this factory. But I will not risk it on a driver in whom I cannot have an equal faith. There are fewer than thirty men in the world qualified to drive Formula One; a mere half-dozen, perhaps, to win. At this moment, I am inclined to think you are not one of them.

• Pete Aron : I wanna' drive for you again, Signor Manetta.

  Agostini Manetta : Aron, your last season with me, you did nothing but tell me what was wrong with our cars. Then you left us, to follow hopes that lasted only a season. Then to Jordan, now back to me.

  Agostini Manetta : [continuing]  You confuse me, Aron. And I don't like men who confuse me driving my cars.

• Agostini Manetta : The question is, Jean-Pierre, what are you doing to do about it?

  Jean-Pierre Sarti : Do? I don't understand.

  Agostini Manetta : The time for losing comes to every man, of course. I had not expected yours to come so soon.

  Jean-Pierre Sarti : There have been problems with the car!

  Agostini Manetta : Come, come, Sarti. I expect excuses like that from lesser men than you. You have been one of the best that ever lived, there is no question of that in my mind. Never a wrong move, concentration always there, 100 percent, till this woman.

  Jean-Pierre Sarti : You have been misled, Sr. Manetta. Do you take me for a trained dog, to jump at the snap of your fingers? My life belongs to no one but myself!

  Agostini Manetta : I have been thinking seriously of your retirement, Sarti.

  Jean-Pierre Sarti : [Angrily]  Then retire me now!

  [Manetta pulls Sarti away from bystanders] 

  Agostini Manetta : [Quietly]  Kindly lower your voice! Of course I will not retire you now. Tomorrow there is a race to be run, and I also well know that you want to drive it. After tomorrow, who knows, Jean-Pierre?

  Jean-Pierre Sarti : After tomorrow, Sr. Manetta, *I* will decide to retire or not.

  Agostini Manetta : Sarti, you're further gone than I'd thought. A pity, a great pity. I always considered you to be the best.

  Jean-Pierre Sarti : I'm *still* the best!