Friday, October 24, 2008

Ferrari: No regrets over Alonso

Ferrari: No regrets over Alonso

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says the Italian team have no regrets about rejecting Fernando Alonso's overtures for a future drive with the team - despite the Spaniard's resurgent form in recent races.

Alonso had set his sights on a switch to the Maranello-outfit, but in the end Ferrari opted to stick with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa until the end of 2010 at least.

But although Raikkonen has had a disappointing time this season, struggling to get to grips with the characteristics of this year's tyres on the F2008, di Montezemolo is sure his team have made the right choice for the future.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about how cheaply the team could have signed Alonso, di Montezemolo said: "That could have been the case four years ago, now I'm happy as we are.

"We are trying to win the title with a different driver from last year and both of them are winning the constructors' for us. If there is one thing giving us no problems, that's the drivers. Except for a non-elating second half of the season for Raikkonen, Massa has done an extraordinary season."

McLaren rival Lewis Hamilton holds a seven points advantage over Massa heading into next weekend's season finale in Brazil, but di Montezemolo thinks the title fight is far from over.

"I'm sorry that in China we had our worst performance of the year in competitiveness," he said. "But we are ahead in the constructors, which by winning it we can write 'world champions' on our cars. My objective at the beginning of the year was to win eight titles in ten years. That's a feat no one has ever achieved."

Talking about the drivers' crown, di Montezemolo said: "We've lost many chances, we suffered in reliability, however we're there.

"And since the championship will be decided in Brazil, let's hope we can score a goal at the 90th minute. I put my faith in the team, Kimi is at the outfit's disposal and Massa is in good form and races at home."



  • Guzan hopes to seize opportunity
  • Alonso still eyes future Ferrari chance
  • No comments: