28/08/2013
NEWS STORY
Stefano Domenicali claims he wants to keep Felipe Massa alongside Fernando Alonso in 2014 but warns that the Brazilian must raise his game.
While most of the attention is on the seat that will be left vacant when Mark Webber leaves F1 for Sports Cars, there is also speculation as to what might happen at Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen has been linked with a return to the team with which he won his title whilst Nico Hulkenberg, Paul di Resta and Jules Bianchi have also been linked with the seat.
However, talking to the official F1 website, Domenicali admits that his ideal scenario would be retain his current line-up.
"Everybody wants to drive for Ferrari. We have to wait and see," he said. "My favourite choice would be, of course, to keep Felipe, because Felipe is a very good guy - very dedicated to the team - and when you look around there are not so many drivers out there that you swap and they immediately deliver.
"But, of course, we need good results from Felipe, so that's why we will not rush as we have to make the right decision for the team. As soon as we have made up our minds we will announce it officially to silence the rumours once and for all. When we are ready."
Of course, with Massa having said that if he loses his Ferrari seat he will quit the sport, Domenicali will not want to say anything that might cause the Brazilian's shoulders to drop and his performance take a further dip.
At the start of the season, a clearly rejuvenated Massa impressed, on several occasions actually giving his illustrious teammate a run for his money however, of late he appears to have slipped back to his old ways. Domenicali was asked if this apparent demotivation is due to Alonso's status within the team.
"(It's) difficult to say," he replied. "When they are on the track the driver has to perform and push. It is in the nature of the team that you have to find the right balance between the two men that are in the cockpits to work well together. I don't think that this is a real issue."
Naturally, the subject of the Iceman and a return to Maranello came up but Domenicali was giving nothing away.
"Kimi is a very fast driver and everybody knows how I rate him," he said. "But if I make a comment now it will be taken as a direct answer. As I said, there is no rush and we will make the right decision in the right moment."
Looking ahead, to Monza and beyond, the Italian is fully aware of the priority.
"To give Fernando and Felipe a better car," he admits. "That is priority number one. Then to improve the organization in order to be successful. Next week James Allison will join and work together with Pat Fry, so the organization will be settled down completely and we can look to the future."
As for the home race.
"Monza is something special in terms of configurations, in terms of pressure and for sure we want to do well there," he admitted. "We know that a win at Monza is very special. The last time that we did that was in 2010 - and yes, it was special. But we are not so keen on a single result - only if means that we are getting closer in the fight for the championship. That then would indeed be fantastic.
"The Spa result has pointed in that direction. Then, if you are able to pick up the pace in terms of improving the car for the rest of the season, we will do it. We will not give up until the mathematical numbers say that we cannot win, because we have to be here when an opportunity arises. Otherwise we would blame ourselves for not being there."
Like many teams however, as Vettel and his team tighten their grip on the title, soon attention will switch from this season to 2014.
"September is the month where we will basically start to shift, as the 2014 project is very complex," he admits. "At the end of September we will then basically switch everyone, depending, of course, on how the situation is with the championship."