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Ferrari dealt Fernando Alonso a rare public rebuke for his critical comments following the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Alonso finished fifth at the Hungaroring and slipped to third in the championship, 39 points behind Red Bull's triple World champion Sebastian Vettel with nine races left.
'I WILL PRAY'
Asked afterwards what kind of car he wanted for his birthday, he said: "The one the others have."
Asked also what he planned to do over the August break, with the 2013 season now at its midpoint, he retorted: "I will pray".
The team website quoted president Luca di Montezemolo saying: "All the great champions who have driven for Ferrari have always been asked to put the interests of the team above their own.
"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."
'DID NOT GO DOWN WELL'
In a blunt assessment, the Ferrari website said Alonso's comments "did not go down well with Montezemolo, nor with anyone in the team" and said the president had "tweaked" the driver's ear in their conversation.
Alonso's manager was seen entering the Red Bull motorhome in Hungary, triggering speculation that the champions could be considering the Ferrari driver as a possible team mate for Vettel.
Alonso has a contract with Ferrari to the end of 2016 and is the team's undisputed number one driver, with Montezemolo usually unstinting in his praise.
Ferrari had earlier announced a reshuffle in their engineering department with James Allison arriving from Lotus as technical director from September 1.
Pat Fry will assume a new position as director of engineering and both men will report to team principal Stefano Domenicali.
Allison, who worked closely with German driver Michael Schumacher in a previous stint with Ferrari, left his last job as Lotus technical director in May.
Ferrari said Allison's arrival was proof of Montezemolo's determination to ensure the team had all the support and resources it needed.
The website said: "There is a need to close ranks, without giving in to rash outbursts that, while understandable in the immediate aftermath of a bad result, are no use to anyone.
"Montezemolo did not mince his words when it came to asking the team to step up a gear. Each one of the engineers present received a 'gift' of a knife, along with an invitation - metaphorical up to a point - to put it between their teeth when thinking how to tackle the second half of the season."
Do you think Fernando Alonso has reason to complain, or was he being a bit of a sore loser? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
Alonso finished fifth at the Hungaroring and slipped to third in the championship, 39 points behind Red Bull's triple World champion Sebastian Vettel with nine races left.
'I WILL PRAY'
Asked afterwards what kind of car he wanted for his birthday, he said: "The one the others have."
Asked also what he planned to do over the August break, with the 2013 season now at its midpoint, he retorted: "I will pray".
The team website quoted president Luca di Montezemolo saying: "All the great champions who have driven for Ferrari have always been asked to put the interests of the team above their own.
"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."
'DID NOT GO DOWN WELL'
In a blunt assessment, the Ferrari website said Alonso's comments "did not go down well with Montezemolo, nor with anyone in the team" and said the president had "tweaked" the driver's ear in their conversation.
Alonso's manager was seen entering the Red Bull motorhome in Hungary, triggering speculation that the champions could be considering the Ferrari driver as a possible team mate for Vettel.
Alonso has a contract with Ferrari to the end of 2016 and is the team's undisputed number one driver, with Montezemolo usually unstinting in his praise.
Ferrari had earlier announced a reshuffle in their engineering department with James Allison arriving from Lotus as technical director from September 1.
Pat Fry will assume a new position as director of engineering and both men will report to team principal Stefano Domenicali.
Allison, who worked closely with German driver Michael Schumacher in a previous stint with Ferrari, left his last job as Lotus technical director in May.
Ferrari said Allison's arrival was proof of Montezemolo's determination to ensure the team had all the support and resources it needed.
The website said: "There is a need to close ranks, without giving in to rash outbursts that, while understandable in the immediate aftermath of a bad result, are no use to anyone.
"Montezemolo did not mince his words when it came to asking the team to step up a gear. Each one of the engineers present received a 'gift' of a knife, along with an invitation - metaphorical up to a point - to put it between their teeth when thinking how to tackle the second half of the season."
Do you think Fernando Alonso has reason to complain, or was he being a bit of a sore loser? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
