'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ferrari have once again refused to be drawn on speculation over their 2014 driver line-up with team boss Stefano Domenicali calling for a big title push.
The Scuderia have been in the news in recent weeks with first Fernando Alonso linked with a move to Red Bull and then Kimi Raikkonen rumoured to be interested in a return to Maranello.
Ferrari, though, have made it clear that they are not ready to discuss their future driver pairing just yet and Domenicali addressed staff on Tuesday and called on them to focus on the Drivers’ Championship and not speculation.
“Our task is very simple: namely to give Fernando and Felipe [Massa] the quickest car possible. Now, their contribution will be even more essential than ever,” he told the official Ferrari website. “We have spelt it out many times before: the driver topic is definitely not a priority.
“What counts is to give them the best possible chance of finishing ahead of everyone and, in order to succeed, each and every one of us must do our job to the best of our ability on all levels. If they have a winning car in their hands, then I am convinced they will know how to win with it. If we all believe, then we can do it!”
Alonso is currently third in the standings, 39 points behind Championship pacesetter Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull with nine races still to go, and Domenicali is confident they will put up a fight until the end if everyone pulls together.
“There is still everything to play for and we have gone through this before, as recently as last year,” said Domenicali. “Nine races means that a total of 225 driver points are available and rest assured that the goals we set ourselves at the start of the season are still perfectly attainable. It’s true we’ve gone through a difficult period, especially in July and now is the time to react in the way that Ferrari people know well.
He added: “I don’t want to see any of you not believing in our fightback: each one of you must be the link in a chain of positivity that must drive the team along in what is a key moment in the season.
“We are Ferrari and history teaches us that we must never accept we are beaten. There is much talk outside the company regarding the future, but we must concentrate only on the present, on the fight for the Championship. The words of our President before the summer break must serve as a stimulus, because they were meant as the words of a good family father, who, first and foremost really roots for our team: keep those words in mind and let’s all pull together, starting in Spa.”
Fernando Alonso hopes to finally put his name on the winner’s board at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The double World Champion has won 32 races in his illustrious Formula One career, but victory at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit has eluded him so far.
He has visited Spa nine times, but he retired in five of those races and finished on the podium only twice. However, he is determined to have some better luck this time around.
“I did well in 2005 when I came second and also back in Formula 3000. So far, I’ve never been in with a real chance of fighting for the win and I’ve often retired at Spa, usually for reasons of plain bad luck or with technical problems or down to my own mistakes. So it would be great to make up for that this year, picking up all those lost points,” he told the official Ferrari website.
With Spa viewed as one of the true racing circuits, Alonso is eager to join the winner’s circle.
“Spa is considered to be a very complete circuit which provides a real challenge for both the driver and the team,” the Spaniard said.
“Therefore, it’s one of those races, along with Monaco and Monza and the other famous tracks with a great reputation, which gives them some added worth, as all the big names have won here in the past, so hopefully this year, we can put our name there. But at the end of the day, it’s still 25 points for the win, just like any other round.”
Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa has fonder memories of Spa as he was on the top step of the podium in 2008.
“Spa is fantastic, something of a dream for all drivers to race there, especially in a Formula 1 car,” the Brazilian said. “There’s so much history there and it’s a wonderful challenge with all the climbs and drops and changes of direction, which all add up to make driving there a true pleasure.”
He added: “Everyone wants to win here. I love the circuit and I hope there are more Spa wins to come in my career. It means a lot because of its history.”
