Domenicali: “The Alonso era at Ferrari is only just beginning”

Stefano Domenicali reiterated that Fernando Alonso's era at Ferrari "is only just beginning". The Spaniard's criticism of the team had raised doubts about a possible move of the two-time world champion to Red Bull or McLaren.

“We are Latins, very impatient” Domenicali declared to the Spanish newspaper AS, in reference to the now running out of patience of Alonso, who missed the world championship for four consecutive years.

“But I was at Ferrari in 1993. And even before. But with Michael Schumacher we finally won in 2000, and it had arrived in 1996."

“We will fight for the title next year, that's for sure” declared Domenicali, for whom Alonso's years at Ferrari were certainly not failures: “We need to look at the results from another perspective. So far, Fernando's history at Ferrari has consisted of two championships lost at the last race. If we had won at least one title out of the last two, the story would be extraordinary, fantastic. So a bit of rationality is needed. Unfortunately, Italians and Spaniards have a rationality between 0 and 0,5,” joked Domenicali.

“I understand that the best driver, a two-time world champion, always wants the opportunity to prove his worth in a more competitive car.”

The Maranello team has never hidden its interest in Sebastian Vettel but according to the Italian, Alonso is stronger than the German: “Vettel is a great driver, there's no doubt. He has grown enormously over the years, just look at his teammate. But as I said, with all due respect, he was able to make the most of a car that was faster than ours, and that means a lot. Ferrari and Fernando are close, we have a challenge to overcome together. He always said the same, so I don't know where the rumors came from. It's normal that other teams want it, but Alonso explained it and we declared that we want to win with Fernando, we have a contract for another three years. What else can we say? I hope it can stay beyond the deadline, it would be nice. Fernando also said it."