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Formula 1 chief executive officer Bernie Ecclestone has backed Ferrari's controversial new driver pairing.
Even Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo believes pitting Fernando Alonso against the team's 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen is a bold risk.
Montezemolo said: "I have been here since the early 70s and I know that risk is something you have to live with in F1."
'ALONSO DROVE WELL'
Ecclestone usually likes to see the sport's top drivers spread across the most competitive teams but he believes an "Alonso versus Raikkonen" battle will be "fun".
Ecclestone said: "I thought Ferrari would win the title in 2013 and I cannot explain why they were not competitive. Alonso, in any case, drove well."
When asked if Alonso was right to criticise Ferrari in 2013, Ecclestone answered "yes".
Alono's criticism earned him a rebuke and many believe Ferrari's decision to replace team mate Felipe Massa with Raikkonen in 2014 was part of a shift away from the team's No.1 driver.
'IT WILL BE FUN WITH THOSE TWO'
Ecclestone explained: "Now the dust has settled and we will see a different Ferrari in 2014. Alonso-Raikkonen is a classic combination that Enzo Ferrari would have liked to see. It will be fun with those two.
"If Kimi drives as he did many times in 2013, it will stimulate Alonso, but what Ferrari really needs is a good car. Otherwise there is nothing to talk about."
Ecclestone said the team with the best new V6 engine will win the 2014 title but he also thinks "luck" will play a big role.
He said: "There is no guarantee that the best driver will win the title. The title will be for the luckiest one. At the moment I have no favourite."
Even Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo believes pitting Fernando Alonso against the team's 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen is a bold risk.
Montezemolo said: "I have been here since the early 70s and I know that risk is something you have to live with in F1."
'ALONSO DROVE WELL'
Ecclestone usually likes to see the sport's top drivers spread across the most competitive teams but he believes an "Alonso versus Raikkonen" battle will be "fun".
Ecclestone said: "I thought Ferrari would win the title in 2013 and I cannot explain why they were not competitive. Alonso, in any case, drove well."
When asked if Alonso was right to criticise Ferrari in 2013, Ecclestone answered "yes".
Alono's criticism earned him a rebuke and many believe Ferrari's decision to replace team mate Felipe Massa with Raikkonen in 2014 was part of a shift away from the team's No.1 driver.
'IT WILL BE FUN WITH THOSE TWO'
Ecclestone explained: "Now the dust has settled and we will see a different Ferrari in 2014. Alonso-Raikkonen is a classic combination that Enzo Ferrari would have liked to see. It will be fun with those two.
"If Kimi drives as he did many times in 2013, it will stimulate Alonso, but what Ferrari really needs is a good car. Otherwise there is nothing to talk about."
Ecclestone said the team with the best new V6 engine will win the 2014 title but he also thinks "luck" will play a big role.
He said: "There is no guarantee that the best driver will win the title. The title will be for the luckiest one. At the moment I have no favourite."