Montezemolo: Ferrari can't get complacent 28 Jun 2012
After a tough winter, Ferrari have been exceeding everyone’s expectations so far this year, and last weekend driver Fernando Alonso became the season’s first repeat winner at the European round. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, however, has warned the team they must not grow complacent and must keep pushing if they are to keep their rivals at bay.
“I don’t want outsiders to think that one win is enough for us to put on a fireworks display,” said Di Montezemolo in the Scuderia’s traditional post-victory gathering at their Maranello factory. “I know how much you are working, how many sacrifices have been made, but I am the first to know that all of us, without exception, must still give something more.
“We must ensure we do everything as well as possible because winning depends solely and exclusively on us. It would be a big mistake to think the win in Valencia means we have done enough. We have a competitive car, but to win, we must do even more.”
In Valencia, Alonso made the most of a topsy-turvy race to come through from 11th on the grid to take the win and establish a 20-point lead in the drivers’ standings. But Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel had been dominating the race before a safety car interrupted proceedings and it is the RB8’s pace, before Vettel retired with an alternator problem, which is of most concern.
“I am worried and all of us should be,” continued Di Montezemolo. “I expect three very tough races at Silverstone, Hockenheim and Budapest and because we have seen that Red Bull is very strong, having had four tenths in hand over everyone in qualifying and in the race it was flying away, at least until the safety car. If we want to achieve our goals then we must make a step forward.”
Despite his hesitancy at celebrating their Valencia success, Di Montezemolo paid tribute to the team and drivers Alonso and Felipe Massa, and singled out team principal Stefano Domenicali for particular praise.
“He has never shirked his responsibilities,” he concluded. “He has acted as a lightning conductor for all the criticism, protecting his people, while at the same time knowing how to demand the maximum effort, how to build a team and look to the future in a positive way and with the right sense of realism.”
Ferrari will be back on track next weekend for the 2012 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix, which takes place at Silverstone from July 6-8.
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