Ferrari chief rebukes Alonso over comments

Two-time world champion criticised car’s performance after Hungarian GP.


Afp July 30, 2013
Alonso slammed his Ferrari’s performance after a fifth-place finish at Hungarian GP. PHOTO: AFP

ROME:


Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo rebuked the team’s star driver Fernando Alonso over comments the Spaniard made following Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.


Alonso was unhappy following his fifth placed finish which saw him slip to third in the world championship standings and 39 points behind triple world champion Sebastian Vettel.

“Ferrari need to improve the car if we are going to have chances to win the world championship,” said Alonso.

And while Montezemolo agreed he wasn’t satisfied with the car’s performance, he reminded Alonso that he needed to be more of a team player.

“All the great champions who have driven for Ferrari have always been asked to put the interests of the team above their own,” said Montezemolo.

“This is the moment to stay calm, avoid polemics and show humility and determination in making one’s own contribution, standing alongside the team and its people both at the track and outside it.”

The article carrying the president’s quotes expressly stated they were directed at Alonso.

It said, “That was a reference to the latest comments from Alonso, which did not go down well with Montezemolo, nor with anyone in the team.”

Ferrari have failed to be consistently competitive since Alonso joined the team in 2010.

And yet the Spaniard has out-performed his teammate Felipe Massa and driven brilliantly to finish in the top four in each of his four seasons with the Italians, finishing runner-up on two occasions.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2013.

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