Domenicali: "I'm very proud of the result we achieved"

Sports Management Director Stefano Domenicali showed Ferrari's true soul when he spoke after Felipe Massa won the Brazilian Grand Prix and claimed the Constructors' title, but lost the Drivers' title to Lewis Hamilton 18 seconds later.

Domenicali was passionate, generous, full of admiration, complimentary, humble, philosophical and understanding. And as a sportsman he appreciated the extraordinary conclusion that he reached in the last, incredible seconds. "It's impossible to say it's not true. It was an amazing season finale and once again I think we should be proud of what we did. There's no reason to look back and think about the ifs and buts With ifs and buts you can build the world.

"The only thing I can say is that we are very happy with the result we achieved today in the Constructors' Championship. In eight of the last ten years we have always been champions. It is something that only Ferrari has managed to do and as a result I am very proud of the team and all the guys - those who were here and those who are at home. For us it is a great achievement."

Domenicali continued with his praise, complimenting Felipe Massa for having matured and for having come so close to winning the Drivers' title. "I'm also very happy for Felipe. He had an incredible season – no one would have bet on it at the beginning.

"This year Felipe did two races that will remain in the history of his growing career. The first was in Hungary, where unfortunately we had a problem but where he was fantastic. And the other was today. He demonstrated great maturity and I am proud to have Felipe in our team, because this is the way we should look at our future. You know, we are still burned by the end of the race, but you can be sure that in a couple of days we will be fully active for next season. For Felipe, losing a title by just one point is painful, as it was last time on the other side.

"I saw a lot of serenity in him because he did his best. Today was truly a great day."

Domenicali continued. "I believe that Felipe has matured a lot. He is truly a great driver. He has had many pole positions and even on the fastest lap he is already at the top. And he has improved significantly lap after lap, with continuity. Furthermore, today, in mixed weather conditions, with the pressure on him and without knowing where he is going, he showed a lot. So I think that in races like this you can see how far he will go. From this defeat you can come out strengthened inside and I believe that this will be ' his case."

There were a few seconds in which Felipe Massa was World Champion as soon as he crossed the finish line and some members of the team were already celebrating when Lewis overtook Glock. Stefano believed that Felipe would win the title? Even the realist Domenicali admitted "to be honest, at that moment I knew that one can be too emotional and not very rational. So I had a document at hand that showed the various scenarios. Then I checked: good for the first, the second , third, fourth – he's still champion. And then I saw Lewis get fifth and I said ok we didn't make it."

What about the outgoing World Champion Kimi Raikkonen? "I think this has been a difficult year for him. But he's happy because we all won as a team. And he can't wait to start again because this is certainly not what we know. I already said that a lot of people were talking last season for Valentino Rossi after last year, and he has done a lot this year. I expect the same approach from Kimi in 2009."

Domenicali also spoke about the conversation with President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. "He was very, very, very proud of the team. We'll meet soon and I'll have a talk with all the guys too, he's very close to Felipe. He said that for him he's a champion – and this doesn't just apply for him but for all of us."

Ferrari won one championship but lost the other. Would Domenicali have preferred the opposite to have happened? "No, I think I'm honest in saying that I'm proud of what we accomplished. I'm proud of the outcome."

Domenicali also complimented Lewis Hamilton. "I went to congratulate him because in sport this is the way to behave. I was there and I did my job. I think it's right. At the end of the day he won by one point and that means he was better by one point. Now he is World Champion, he lost last year by one point and next season we will see."

Domenicali was asked if the season and the finale were a good thing for Formula One and he responded philosophically: "I think it was very important for the future of F1, to be constructive when we have to be and to fight on the track when we have to do it and in a sporting way. I think it's a very important step for the future. We look forward to many important things from a rules point of view, so in my opinion this is the way it should be."

In the end there is a positive thing that can be learned from negative things, says Domenicali. "I think that, as always, with ifs and buts we win every time. We must learn from the negative episodes of this year to improve and to change the things that are not going well. But in a calm, rational way.

"But I want to highlight an aspect of which I am proud. It is the fact that all the people who work in this team share the same values, the same passion, the same philosophy. They are all honest people and are proud to work in this great team. I have the honor and privilege of being their leader." This is how a true leader speaks.