Montezemolo: "Ferrari with Massa and Raikkonen also in 2009"

The president of Ferrari, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, on the occasion of his visit to the Monza tests, declared that the Maranello team will race with the same drivers again next season, thus denying the speculations regarding a possible arrival of Fernando Alonso in replacement of Kimi Raikkonen.

To those who asked him if Raikkonen will be Felipe Massa's teammate again next year, Montezemolo responded like this: "Absolutely yes. I have heard the criticism of Kimi but a few bad races do not mean that we are in crisis " we read in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Nothing has changed for me. I still have a contract (for 2009)" declared Raikkonen after the meeting with Montezemolo: "We didn't discuss anything in particular".

Montezemolo also greeted Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Despite the friendliness towards the Spaniard, the president once again denied the negotiations: "It was bad to see a great champion like him out of the top ten in Valencia. But as far as Ferrari is concerned, they can relax".

Montezemolo acknowledged that Massa's form indicates that the Brazilian is "in the fight for the title" while refusing to rule out a possible recovery for Raikkonen: "No one should forget that he is the world champion, who has done what many they didn't foresee triumphing in his first year with Ferrari. Kimi is motivated and we have to work hard to help him qualify better, especially on all these new circuits that I don't like and are negative for F1: you can't overtake, and nine times out of 10 the winner is the one who starts on pole."

Montezemolo also denied the hypothesis that Massa will henceforth enjoy treatment as number 1: "This is an old theme from the times of Lauda and Regazzoni. Lap times determine the hierarchies, not the president. Schumacher , Barrichello, Raikkonen and Massa: they all raced or race for Ferrari."