Luca di Montezemolo says Ferrari should be proud but that is not enough – Formula 1 news
Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has admitted to being proud of his team’s performance in the United States Grand Prix but has warned that it is not enough and should now focus on winning.
“We can be proud of what we have achieved so far,” Montezemolo is quoted on the official Ferrari website. “For the past sixteen years, with very few exceptions, we have got used to reaching the final stage of the championship in this situation and here we
are again this season, so that whatever the outcome, we have been contenders. However, pride is not enough: we want to win.”
The chairman is impressed by driving of both drivers, championship runner Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, in the United States GP over the new Circuit of the Americas. He particularly appreciated Massa for displaying team spirit. He asked the team to prepare
well for moving ahead to Sao Paulo for the Brazilian GP and focus on winning that race as well as beating Red Bull rival, Sebastian Vettel, for the drivers’ championship.
He said the team should be ready to fight until the last kilometre of the last race of the season which will not be easy but he has no doubts about it.
Ferrari had started the race in Austin focusing on keeping the championship fight alive for Alonso. He needed to finish fourth in case Vettel won that race. However, Alonso had the disadvantage of being on the slippery side of the track. To help him, the
team deliberately broke the gearbox seal on Massa’s car incurring a five place penalty to him and successfully moving Alonso to a better position to start the race. Massa had agreed to it despite being not happy in the beginning but says it was the right thing
to do. He still finished fourth with Vettel and Alonso finishing second and third respectively.
The team will enter the Brazilian GP being 13 points behind Vettel. Alonso himself has been very satisfied about the title being still undecided and has been confident of winning throughout the season.
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