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'With Michael Schumacher we finally won in 2000 though he had joined in 1996," said team boss Stefano Domenicali insisting that Fernando Alonso's success with Ferrari is just beginning.
ROME, Italy - Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali insists Ferrari's Fernando Alonso era is just beginning. Judging by Alonso's comments over the last six months, and rumours linking him with a switch to Red Bull or McLaren, one gets the impression the veteran is running out of patience after four consecutive years of failing to win the title in red.
'WE'LL FIGHT FOR TITLE IN 2014'
Domenicali said: "We are very Latin, very impatient. I was at Ferrari in 1993 and before. With Michael Schumacher we finally won in 2000 and he had come in 1996." According to Domenicali's comparison with the team's ultra-successful Schumacher era, Alonso is due for another Formula 1 title in 2014: "Yes 100%, we will fight for the title in 2014."
That has actually been a familiar refrain ever since Alonso joined in 2010, though Domenicali insists that Alonso's years in red have not been barren.
Domenicali said: "You need to see the results from another angle. The story of Fernando with Ferrari so far has been a tale of two championships lost in the last race. If we had won at least one of those two, the story would be extraordinary, fantastic. So it takes a bit of rationality.
"The Italian and Spanish have rationality between zero and zero-point-five. I understand that the best driver, a driver who is a double World champion, always wants the opportunity to prove himself in a more competitive car."
Ferrari has Alonso under contract for several more seasons but there have been rumours hinting at the Maranello team's interest in Sebastian Vettel, who is similarly committed in the medium term to Red Bull.
'NORMAL OTHER TEAMS WANT HIM'
Domenicali believes Alonso is better than Vettel: "He is a great driver, there's no doubt. He has grown tremendously over the years, just look at his team mate (Mark Webber). As I have said, with all due respect, he has been able to fully exploit a car that was faster than ours, and that means a lot.
"Ferrari and Fernando have to stick together; it is a challenge we have together. He has always said the same, so I don't know where these reports that suggest otherwise come from. It's normal that other teams want him.
"What we say is 'We want to win with Fernando' and we have a contract for three more years. What more can we say?"
ROME, Italy - Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali insists Ferrari's Fernando Alonso era is just beginning. Judging by Alonso's comments over the last six months, and rumours linking him with a switch to Red Bull or McLaren, one gets the impression the veteran is running out of patience after four consecutive years of failing to win the title in red.
'WE'LL FIGHT FOR TITLE IN 2014'
Domenicali said: "We are very Latin, very impatient. I was at Ferrari in 1993 and before. With Michael Schumacher we finally won in 2000 and he had come in 1996." According to Domenicali's comparison with the team's ultra-successful Schumacher era, Alonso is due for another Formula 1 title in 2014: "Yes 100%, we will fight for the title in 2014."
That has actually been a familiar refrain ever since Alonso joined in 2010, though Domenicali insists that Alonso's years in red have not been barren.
Domenicali said: "You need to see the results from another angle. The story of Fernando with Ferrari so far has been a tale of two championships lost in the last race. If we had won at least one of those two, the story would be extraordinary, fantastic. So it takes a bit of rationality.
"The Italian and Spanish have rationality between zero and zero-point-five. I understand that the best driver, a driver who is a double World champion, always wants the opportunity to prove himself in a more competitive car."
Ferrari has Alonso under contract for several more seasons but there have been rumours hinting at the Maranello team's interest in Sebastian Vettel, who is similarly committed in the medium term to Red Bull.
'NORMAL OTHER TEAMS WANT HIM'
Domenicali believes Alonso is better than Vettel: "He is a great driver, there's no doubt. He has grown tremendously over the years, just look at his team mate (Mark Webber). As I have said, with all due respect, he has been able to fully exploit a car that was faster than ours, and that means a lot.
"Ferrari and Fernando have to stick together; it is a challenge we have together. He has always said the same, so I don't know where these reports that suggest otherwise come from. It's normal that other teams want him.
"What we say is 'We want to win with Fernando' and we have a contract for three more years. What more can we say?"
