His team losing ground to Red Bull and Mercedes, and under pressure from Lotus, Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali is under no illusion as to what is needed at Spa and beyond... speed.

"There is still everything to play for and we have gone through this before, as recently as last year," he told the team workforce this afternoon before heading to Belgium. "Nine races means that a total of 225 driver points are available and rest assured that the goals we set ourselves at the start of the season are still perfectly attainable.

"It's true we've gone through a difficult period, especially in July," he continued, "and now is the time to react in the way that Ferrari people know well.

"Our task is very simple: namely to give Fernando and Felipe the quickest car possible. Now, their contribution will be even more essential than ever. "We have spelt it out many times before: the driver topic is definitely not a priority. What counts is to give them the best possible chance of finishing ahead of everyone and, in order to succeed, each and every one of us must do our job to the best of our ability on all levels.

"If they have a winning car in their hands, then I am convinced they will know how to win with it. If we all believe, then we can do it!"

The Italian, who knows that his future with the Maranello team could be on the line, spent considerable time talking about the right mental approach. "I don't want to see any of you not believing in our fightback: each one of you must be the link in a chain of positivity that must drive the team along in what is a key moment in the season. We are Ferrari and history teaches us that we must never accept we are beaten. There is much talk outside the company regarding the future, but we must concentrate only on the present, on the fight for the championship. The words of our President before the summer break must serve as a stimulus, because they were meant as the words of a good family father, who, first and foremost really roots for our team: keep those words in mind and let's all pull together, starting in Spa."

Domenicali's rallying cry follows the verbal roasting company president Luca di Montezemolo handed out earlier this month, the Italian warning that he was bitterly disappointed with the drop-off in performance since Silverstone. Indeed, reminding everyone that no individual is bigger than Ferrari, he even rebuked Fernando Alonso for publicly criticising his car.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Carugatese, 22/08/2013 11:34

"Here we are again... I have already listened to such a story...."

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2. Posted by JackTheCat, 21/08/2013 8:49

"Once again they have been unable to develop the car during the season whereas Red Bull and Mercedes (this season) have. This is the fourth season that windtunnel correlation issues have plagued them and that is why they are slipping back again. Nothing to do with Alonso going to RBR or Felipe's downturn (which is probably due to him overdriving the car in an effort to 'keep up' with the frontrunners)."

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3. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 21/08/2013 5:42

"If Ferrari are truly serious about winning the Driver's Championship then they need to concentrate their efforts on Alonso's car and leave Massa to pick up points where he can as I don't believe they can support both drivers equally."

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4. Posted by Jackal, 21/08/2013 0:26

"Spa will be pivotal for Ferrari. Felipe's recent downturn in performance and Alonso's antics (going to RBR rumour and bad-mouthing the team) have been distractions that have the potential to sink their chances of competing for either title this season in my opinion."

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Domenicali: We need the quickest car possible

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