Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says he understands Fernando Alonso’s frustration following his driver’s critical comments about his car earlier this year.
“Over the past few years, Fernando has given his all and he deserves to have a competitive car with which he can win a world championship with the reds,” said Montezemolo at the team’s annual Christmas lunch.
“I can understand his occasional moments of frustration, which we all share, but I am sure he is well aware what Ferrari represents and because of that, he will be even keener to give it his best shot.”
Montezemolo thanked the team for their efforts during 2013, which saw them slip to third in the constructors’ championship. “I want to thank all of you for the effort you have put in, even if there is disappointment at not having had the sort of season we would have wished for, especially after a positive start, that we all hoped would continue,” he said.
“In part, that was definitely down to some external factors, but it was mainly down to us not bringing the necessary updates to the track, a mistake we must not repeat.”
He gave a vote of confidence to team principal Stefano Domenicali, saying he “deserves the credit for having given it his all and it’s thanks to his work and that of his colleagues that we are making progress with the tools and technology which will help us return to winning ways”.
“I for one am definitely sick of coming second,” Montezemolo added, “we have the ability, the competence and the spirit to return to the top step of the podium.”
The departing Felipe Massa was presented with an engine from the team’s 2008 season, when he finished runner-up in the drivers’ championship, and in returns presented Montezemolo with on of the special helmets he used for his final race in Brazil.
“It will do Felipe good to get out from Ferrari,” said Montezemolo. “He will be back with new motivation, like footballers who change teams for a while before returning to their own.”
“The doors of this company will always be open to a man and a driver of his quality. His name is linked to Ferrari I want to thank him for his contribution over the eight years he spent with us.”
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Image © Ferrari/Ercole Colombo
zoom (@zoomracing)
15th December 2013, 11:07
Less talk Mr. Montezemolo.
Strontium (@strontium)
15th December 2013, 11:55
Less listening if you don’t like it.
He’s trying to push on a team here, and he is not simply giving the usual empty promises to everyone.
zoom (@zoomracing)
15th December 2013, 17:07
Maybe you don’t follow Ferrari but I do, this is his classic PR speech, he does it always, is nothing new.
rambler
15th December 2013, 20:48
It’s pretty hilarious when you think about it that this muppet is the boss of a big company…
Corrado (@)
15th December 2013, 22:01
Why’s that ?!
He’s been with Ferrari since Lauda’s Ferrari days, then he’s a manager, politician etc etc. I think Ferrari’s resurrection and growth starting the 90s is down to his leadership. I hardly believe Ferrari would have been as strong as they’re today with someone else as chairman. So, I think he deserves the minimum respect, at least for the overall state of the company. The one to blame more for the F1 state is… Domenicalli, in my opinion. He’s in charge with the F1 program after all, no ?!
eureka
16th December 2013, 2:48
less talk, montezemollo!
F1 Noob (@noob)
15th December 2013, 16:51
yeah, SF on a slippery slope ;)
DaveF1 (@davef1)
15th December 2013, 11:52
Dear Santa;
I have been a reasonably good member of F1Fanatic and so for Christmas I would like Ferrari to start with a car like they did in 2013, develop it like they did in 2010 and for Alonso and Kimi to have the form they had in 2012.
Thanks.
Lateralus (@lateralus)
15th December 2013, 12:09
That’s a Vettel-beater right there. Hopefully they can pull it off. Looking forward to the season soooooo much with Fernando and Kimi in red. My two favorite drivers in my favorite team. :)
Rockie
15th December 2013, 13:28
That’s all good but if Vettel improves his form on 2013 it won’t matter a jot at all!
As Alonso had a poor 2012 but due to reliability issues of others it looked great!
Fsoud (@udm7)
15th December 2013, 13:50
Thats really well put :)
Hopefully he grants it .
F1 Noob (@noob)
15th December 2013, 16:52
@davef1 Atleast they should be able to challenge RBR if not Vettel
Nathan (@il-ferrarista)
15th December 2013, 17:36
+100
Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
15th December 2013, 21:37
@davef1 you forgot to mention a good cohabitation between Alonso and Raikonnen, I could see it as the big story next year, don’t know how it will pend out …
Klaas (@klaas)
15th December 2013, 12:10
Hopefully not the one he used in Hungary :)
Ridiculous
15th December 2013, 12:38
My thoughts exactly
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
15th December 2013, 13:11
Look out for Felipe’s surprisingly fast kart in his annual kart race (Desafio das Estrelas, 10-11 Jan).
GeeMac (@geemac)
15th December 2013, 12:35
“I can understand his occasional moments of frustration, which we all share, but I am sure he is well aware what Ferrari represents…”
What’s that Luca? The team most likely to finish a distant second to Red Bull in the championship for the duration of Alonso’s stay with the team?
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
15th December 2013, 12:53
the heck people care about “what Ferrari represents“. That’s a bold statement if the car they design year after year since 2011 is a total dog.
Heritage doesn’t win races, it doesn’t win championships. And Alonso should be even more mean towards his team, because, really, they are missing big time while he’s at the top of his game and making them look better than they are.
Rockie
15th December 2013, 13:34
Ferrari through Alonso has turned itself into an also ran team, when they win instead of just celebrating they spew BS out to make it seem as if Alonso has done what is not possible in the car, hence they seem lost, when you make yourself seem like a Williams when you win the only way is down from there!
Ferrari should be all about winning and not about their history in the sport but that’s all we hear “we used to win, and have the most wins in the history of the sport” but as the years go by people are catching up fast on the so called history after 8 years in the sport Redbull have got 25% of the championships Ferrari has gotten in 63 years.
Nathan (@il-ferrarista)
16th December 2013, 5:57
The Scuderia is F1’s equivalent of Real Madrid. A great historic team with star palyers(ie star drivers), but failing to win any silverware lately.
Timothy Katz (@timothykatz)
15th December 2013, 13:53
“I for one am definitely sick of coming second,” Montezemolo added,
You didn’t. Youcame third.
Matt
15th December 2013, 13:54
Alonso has had a few chances to win the championship with ferrari.
Also the Ferrari has been a very good race car, just not so good in quali. But quali pace doesn’t seem to matter as much these days. But alonso has never been amazing in quali.
Mashiat (@)
15th December 2013, 16:13
It has been, from Korea till Austin, slower than the Mercedes, Lotus, Red Bull and most of the time, the Sauber in the races. It was only a good race car till Silverstone
Berni's Little Brother (@tyred)
15th December 2013, 14:24
That engine will be a bugger to dust with all them nooks and crannies. Glad I don’t have to store it….
Latvian (@latvian)
15th December 2013, 15:32
Ferrari are so arrogant. that is their main problem.
to win you have to do your best without a thought that you are the best. the God doesn’t like arrogance. and he will not bless that kind of mindset.
javlinsharp (@javlinsharp)
16th December 2013, 20:45
I dont think
cares too much about the arrogance at Ferrari. I would hope
is focusing his attention on real problems, like punishing FIA for stupid “entertainment” rules… :-)
OmarR-Pepper (@)
15th December 2013, 16:37
So Luca was so sick that I guess he was on of the main pushers of the double points finale. (See I’m saying “I guess” to stop the “link please?” comments ;P)
BasCB (@bascb)
15th December 2013, 16:43
Hm, didn’t one of the German media state they mid season they were seriously considering dropping Alonso? In the end they just snapped up Kimi to push him more.
Corrado (@)
15th December 2013, 21:51
Drop Alonso ?!?! If so, they must have been out of their minds !!!!! There’re max 2 other drivers in the current field that could have achieved 2nd in the WDC with the 2013 car… and those are VET and HAM ! So, they were either plain stupid OR tried to push indirectly ALO to give even more. Thing is, it’s impossible to deliver more performance and get better results with the 2013 Ferrari F1 car ! There’s nothing left to ask from him, just give him a better car ! Massa, on the other hand, was their Achille’s heel in losing 2nd in the WCC. Thank God they… finally… realized he’s useless, and dropped him.
sumedh
16th December 2013, 2:43
Regarding the COTD, well, a Ferrari driver came second. And it is well known that Ferrari care about the drivers’ championship, not constructors. Look at the outpouring of emotion after Michael won the 2000 drivers title versus the celebrations of the 1999 constructors title. Also, look at Ferrari’s no.1-no.2 policy in their drivers.
Now, you could make an argument saying “they are a team, they should worry about the constructors and let drivers worry about the drivers’ title”. Obviously, Ferrari think differently. Hence, their different status compared to other teams in the sport as well.
IDR (@idr)
16th December 2013, 6:05
Ferrari (as any other team) cares about the best position (driver or team) achieved in a season.