Alonso “crossed the line” says Domenicali

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali made has made some interesting observations in a specially arranged interview with two Italian fans noted for their criticism of the Scuderia on social networks.

Ferrari invited the pair to ask the boss anything they wanted.

“I have something to say to him, as would be the case with my engineers, I would do it behind closed doors and in a harsh manner,” said Domenicali when asked about Fernando Alonso and Luca di Montezemolo’s ‘ear tweaking’. “But externally, I will always defend the team. When he crossed the line, president Montezemolo intervened and in private, so did I.”

Domenicali conceded that Ferrari has not given the Spaniard a good enough car.

“If in the past four years we have come close to the title twice, it is partly down to him. Unfortunately, we have not been capable of giving him a car that matches his talent. You compare him to Vettel, but when you have a better car, everything is more straightforward.”

Asked what Red Bull had and Ferrari didn’t, he said: “Everyone is trying to work that out. But it’s pointless make accusations if there is no proof. The FIA can check the control unit, and if they find nothing than Red Bull is obviously doing a good job.”

Domenicali was also asked why Felipe Massa has stayed with the team for so long, the questioner implying that the Brazilian has not been the same since his 2009 accident.

“There are two reasons. From a medical point of view, there is no proof that the accident left any permanent damage, such as problems with his sight or reflexes. And then there’s the gentility which would demand that we give a driver who hasn’t had much luck, the chance to show he deserves to stay with us.

“If Felipe was unable to deliver the performance we hoped for, it was mainly down to a hyper-sensitivity to a car that was too nervous at the rear, but in 2008, he almost took the title and I consider him as a world champion. We took Raikkonen because we wanted more. When we replaced him with Alonso, he was not happy and so he returns with a great desire to do well.”

More from the discussion can be found on the Ferrari website.