Following a mixed Japanese Grand prix in which Fernando Alonso was eliminated just a few moments into the race and Felipe Massa finished second, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insists that all is not lost.

"It's at times like these that I want to see the Ferrari I know," he told the team website. "A team that is focused and that holds its nerve. I will speak to Fernando by phone soon to give him even more motivation with which to tackle these last five races, with the bit between his teeth, as indeed I expect all the team to do.

"Yesterday's second place for Felipe was very important in this final part of the season when his contribution is even more vital," he continued. "I expect a huge effort from our engineers who have already shown they are capable of that and we are perfectly aware that this championship is still in our hands.

"We know we can count on the strongest driver around at the moment and it's only mistakes from others at Spa and again at Suzuka, that have prevented him from having a more comfortable lead over his rivals," he added, referring to the first corner inciodent at Spa. "Let's not forget that, but for those two collisions, today Fernando would have had at least 30 points more and that's a conservative estimate. In sport, as in life, the wheel turns and we must not forget that: recently, it has not done so in a positive way for us, but it does not take much for it to change direction."

Despite their much publicised windtunnel problems, the Ferrari engineers have a lot of work to do to respond to the major step forward made by Red Bull in these last two races, but as the Maranello outfit points out: "This year, as never before, every race seems to have its own tale to tell and the hierarchy changes quite easily."