Tag: Luca di Montezemolo

Departing Ferrari president Luca di Montzemolo has confirmed what we already knew, that Fernando Alonso will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2014 Formula 1 season.

Speaking on Italian television di Montezemolo said: “Fernando is leaving for two reasons.

“One, he wants another environment. Two, because he is an age when he cannot wait to win again.”

The 33-year-old dual world champion joined Ferrari in 2010 and came close to winning the title that year and again in 2012. In his time with the Scuderia he has constantly impressed with his ability to extract maximum performance from the oft sub-par machinery he has been given.

It’s expected that Alonso will drive for McLaren in 2015, with rumours suggesting he may have signed a deal directly with Honda. There’s also a chance that he may sit out for the year with an eye on a Mercedes seat in 2016. Although, Alonso has previously said it’s “probably not a big risk” that he won’t be in F1 next year.

McLaren it is then and you’d think Jenson Button, who will be 35 when the 2015 season begins, could be the man to make way.

Of course, the other well known secret in F1 is that Alonso will be replaced by Sebastian Vettel. We can expect an official statement from Maranello very soon it would appear.

Vettel’s contract with Red Bull Racing expires five days after the final race, which therefore includes the post-season test in Bahrain. Red Bull will hold Vettel to the terms of his contract, denying him an opportunity to test with Ferrari before the year is out.

[Source: BBC]

After only managing fifth place in the Hungarian Grand Prix Fernando Alonso was a little frustrated. When asked what he would like for his birthday, which was on Monday, he replied: “Someone else’s car.”

As you can imagine this didn’t go down too well with Ferrari’s top brass. Moreover, Alonso isn’t the only one upset with the Scuderia’s current form and Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo, signed off on an official press release urging his F1 team to lift its game and firmly putting Fernando in his place.

“All the great champions who have driven for Ferrari have always been asked to put the interests of the team above their own. This is the moment to stay calm, avoid polemics and show humility and determination in making one’s own contribution, standing alongside the team and its people both at the track and outside it,” di Montezemolo said.

In other words: “Okay, so, Ferrari is bigger than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?”

Alonso is contracted to Ferrari until the end of the 2016 season, however, there are further signs there may be trouble at Maranello.

Luis Garcia Abad, Alonso’s manager, was seen with Christian Horner in the Red Bull motorhome at the Hungaraoring on the weekend. Innocently, we’re told the meeting was in regards to Carlos Sainz Jr. That’s a very plausible explanation, but perhaps there was more to the meeting than first meets the eye.

Ferrari insist their contract with Alonso is water tight and cannot be broken. Chances are it won’t, but throwing Alonso’s name into the who will replace Webber at Red Bull discussion certainly spices up the rumour mill heading into the mid-season break.

And what does Sebastian Vettel think about all this? “I’d prefer Kimi,” said the Red Bull number one. “I have to be careful now, nothing against Fernando. I really respect him a lot as a driver.

“I respect Kimi on track and off track because he has always been really straight with me. From that point of view, it might be a bit easier.”

Perhaps the biggest competition between a team consisting of Vettel and Alonso, should it ever eventuate, would be not who is the fastest, but who can throw his toys of the cot the furthest.

[Source: BBC | Pic: Ferrari]