During the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza the BBC were of the opinion that Ferrari’s driver line-up for 2014 was solely in the hands of Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo.
Some reports had suggested that both Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso both wanted to see an unchanged driver line-up for 2014 with Felipe Massa remaining at Maranello.
Whilst other reports suggested that Ferrari were ready to change their previous vision of having a clear number one driver and a number two driver who would support their team-mate.
A fine example of this would have been the slip-streaming during qualifying of Felipe Massa running around the Monza track ahead of Fernando Alonso, enabling the Spaniard to run quicker and claim pole position.
Ironically though Massa was too quick and eventually out-qualified Alonso, with the plan failing.
Ultimately that whole principal has failed Ferrari in recent years and incomes a change of mind-set with the announcement that former Ferrari F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen would return to the team to partner Fernando Alonso for the next two seasons.
So what has been Domenicali’s and more importantly Alonso’s reaction to the news?
?I am pleased to welcome Kimi back to the Scuderia, the team with which he won his world championship title. I sense he is very happy to be returning to Maranello and very determined to tackle the work that awaits him in the best way possible.? Domenicali told the Ferrari website.
Whilst Alonso added: ?I?d like to welcome my new travelling companion: together, starting next year, we will have to tackle a very demanding technical and racing challenge.?
Not exactly an open arms welcome, but polite enough.
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