Skip to main content

Ferrari chief coy over Massa future

June 5, 2012 -- Updated 1759 GMT (0159 HKT)
Brazilian Felipe Massa has been driving for Ferrari since 2006, having previously been with Sauber.
Brazilian Felipe Massa has been driving for Ferrari since 2006, having previously been with Sauber.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo will look at team's drivers at the end of season
  • Di Montezemolo praises Felipe Massa's performance at Monaco Grand Grix
  • Ferrari chief describes Fernando Alonso as the "best driver in the world"
  • Di Montezemolo: "Now we are in the lead .. it's only up to us to win the championship"

(CNN) -- Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has refused to be drawn over speculation on the future of Felipe Massa at the legendary Formula One marque.

While Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso leads the standings after six races with 73 points, his Brazilian teammate Massa, whose contract with the Italian team runs until the end of 2012, is back in 14th place having picked up just 10 points this season.

Massa has struggled for form after fracturing his skull during qualifying at the Hungary Grand Prix in 2009.

"In this moment my concentration is everywhere except the drivers," Di Montezemolo told CNN in answer to a question whether Ferrari were looking at new drivers. "It's too early in the season and we will see after that."

Alonso: F1 runs risk of losing credibility

Ecclestone: American races good for F1
Ecclestone: F1 secure until 2020
The magic of the Monaco Grand Prix
Mark Webber receives the winning trophy from Prince Albert II of Monaco after his superb victory from pole. Mark Webber receives the winning trophy from Prince Albert II of Monaco after his superb victory from pole.
Royal congratulations
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
>
>>
Webber seals Monaco Grand Prix triumph Webber seals Monaco Grand Prix triumph

However the Ferrari chief did make a point of praising Massa's performance at the Monaco Grand Prix when the Brazilian finished sixth.

"I'm pleased to see Felipe Massa did a very good race weekend in Monte Carlo," said di Montezemolo. "Because the more the car has improved, the less difficult it is to drive and good for Felipe. I count on him to take off points for Fernando's competitors."

By way of contrast the Ferrari president was fulsome in his praise of Alonso.

"I think I have the best driver in the world that is Alonso, said Di Montezemolo. "Alonso, particularly in the races has been fantastic and I like his attitude to work very closely with the team as Michael Schumacher was able to do.

"Alonso is a driver with attention to the details but most of all what I like about him is that he is always positive - even in the difficult moments he is always positive. This is very important for the psychological attitude and psychological reaction of the team, this is what I like the most."

The scenario of the Scuderia leading the drivers' standings after six races seemed unlikely at the start of this season, when Alonso and his Italian team publicly doubted the race pace of the two Ferraris.

"Now we are in the lead of the championship, it's only up to us to win the championship," added di Montezemolo.

"So each of us has to look at the pole position of our jobs, to be perfect, to improve, to look inside ourselves what we can do to improve because in a competition in which you can win or lose for half of a tenth of a second - you have to perfect, in the start and in the pit stop."

ADVERTISEMENT
Part of complete coverage on
Track the new Formula One season as it progresses, circuit by circuit, race by race.
March 14, 2013 -- Updated 1324 GMT (2124 HKT)
Can the new F1 season live up to last year's standards? Find out the need-to-know stories for 2013.
March 14, 2013 -- Updated 1148 GMT (1948 HKT)
CNN looks ahead to the Australian Grand Prix, the first F1 race of the 2013 season.
February 28, 2013 -- Updated 1824 GMT (0224 HKT)
Adrian Sutil will be Force India's second driver for the 2013 Formula One season, pledging to make the most of his "second chance".
March 2, 2013 -- Updated 0152 GMT (0952 HKT)
Christmas Abbott, 5'3 and 115 pounds, is the first woman to join a NASCAR pit crew team.
February 12, 2013 -- Updated 0035 GMT (0835 HKT)
The first race in Melbourne is just around the corner and Formula 1 teams are gearing up for a season which promises to be as technical as it is tactical.
March 1, 2013 -- Updated 1219 GMT (2019 HKT)
When the new Formula 1 season gets underway in March, for the first time there will be a woman running a team's entire operations from track to boardroom.
January 21, 2013 -- Updated 1222 GMT (2022 HKT)
The Dakar Rally is one of the world's most dangerous motorsport races, and this year's edition has already been marred by tragic deaths.
January 31, 2013 -- Updated 1920 GMT (0320 HKT)
The famous circuit of Nurburgring is confirmed Thursday as the venue for the 2013 German Grand Prix after reaching a deal with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.
November 27, 2012 -- Updated 1536 GMT (2336 HKT)
It did not take very long for the inevitable question to be asked -- just how good a driver is Sebastian Vettel?
January 24, 2013 -- Updated 1449 GMT (2249 HKT)
Changes to tires will make Formula 1 racing faster with more overtaking in 2013, according to the sport's official tire supplier Pirelli.
November 26, 2012 -- Updated 0935 GMT (1735 HKT)
Fangio
Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, and contemporary pacesetters Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were all contenders.
November 23, 2012 -- Updated 1332 GMT (2132 HKT)
Who is the greatest F1 driver of all time? Past and present drivers give their verdict on the contenders to CNN.
CNN has asked Formula One stars past and present, "Who is the best driver of all time?" Now we want to hear from you.
November 20, 2012 -- Updated 0948 GMT (1748 HKT)
A triumphant Lewis Hamilton called Sunday's United States Grand Prix the best race of 2012 but for many it was more important than that -- it was Formula One being reborn in the USA.
CNN's Ben Wyatt says Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso will seal their place in F1 history in Brazil this weekend.
November 25, 2012 -- Updated 1941 GMT (0341 HKT)
The F1 title race will be fought over 20 races this season. Keep track of the latest standings in the drivers' and manufacturers' championships.
November 16, 2012 -- Updated 1520 GMT (2320 HKT)
The Formula One roadshow rolls into Austin, Texas this weekend for the first race of ten over the coming decade
Mario Andretti says the key to rekindling F1 in the U.S. is a buzzword that has been flying around Washington faster than a Ferrari -- stability.
ADVERTISEMENT