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Ferrari will fight for the title next year - Domenicali

Ferrari will fight for the title next year - Domenicali

  • Published on 16 Oct 2013 13:37
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Stefano Domenicali insists Ferrari's Fernando Alonso era is just beginning. Actually, judging by the Spaniard's comments over the last six months, and rumours linking him with a switch to Red Bull or McLaren, one gets the impression Alonso is running out of patience after four consecutive years of failing to win the title in red.

"We are very Latin, very impatient," team boss Domenicali smiled to the Spanish sports daily AS. "But I was at Ferrari in 1993. And before. But with Michael Schumacher we finally won in 2000 -- and he had come in 1996." According to Domenicali's comparison with the ultra-successful Schumacher era, then, Alonso is due a title in 2014. "Yes, 100 per cent," said the Italian. "We will fight for the title next year."

But that has actually been a familiar refrain ever since Alonso joined, in 2010. Domenicali, however, insists Alonso's years in red have not been barren. "You need to see the results from another angle," he said. "Another perspective. 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," Domenicali smiled again. "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. Domenicali, however, said he thinks Alonso is better than Vettel.

"He (Vettel) is a great driver, there's no doubt," he said. "He has grown tremendously over the years -- just look at his teammate (Mark Webber). But 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," added Domenicali.

So, notwithstanding all the recent rumours, he insists Ferrari is planning ahead with Alonso. "Ferrari and Fernando have to stick together; it is a challenge we have together," said Domenicali. "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, but Alonso has said what he said, and so to think otherwise is not to give credibility to what Alonso says. What we say is 'We want to win with Fernando' and we have a contract for three more years. What more can we say?" he added.

In fact, Domenicali said he hopes Alonso stays even longer than his current tenure. "I hope so, it would be nice," he said. "Fernando has said it too." (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Sebastian Vettel Ferrari McLaren

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Red Bull Racing
195
2
Ferrari
151
3
McLaren
96
4
Mercedes
52
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Aston Martin
40
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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Qatar Losail International Circuit
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United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 533
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 149
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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