Domenicali suggests Webber talks were never serious
22 July, 2012
Stefano Domenicali with Mark Webber
Jul.22 (GMM) Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has played down Red Bull’s claim that Mark Webber chose to stay with the energy drink-owned team for 2013 season despite reports of overtures from the Maranello based outfit.
Unusually for an official press release, Red Bull recently quoted Webber as saying he had “discussions with Ferrari” this year but ultimately decided to extend his current contract for another season.
“I don’t like to speak of others,” Ferrari team boss Domenicali told the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo at Hockenheim.
“But some people love to say these things to put on psychological pressure and also to raise themselves us, which is part of the racing world,” said the Italian.
Domenicali suggested the Webber talks were never serious, “The contacts that Ferrari has with other drivers are normal and part of formula one, but it’s contacts, and nothing else. Some drivers use these contacts for different purposes. I think this year the only candidate for a Ferrari drive not mentioned is Zorro.”
“We had already said before the Webber statement that Ferrari is not in a hurry to decide our other driver. And that remains true,” said Domenicali.
He is referring to the race seat currently occupied by Felipe Massa, whose form has improved markedly in the last few races.
Domenicali denied Ferrari has to actively search out a potential replacement, “The drivers come to talk to us. The strength of Ferrari is that we are Ferrari even in difficult times.”
The team boss he hinted that all the talks will be called off if Massa continues to improve his form, “If he can get rid of the difficulties he has been having, as seems to be the case now, I see him as one of the best formula one drivers.”
“My hope was that Felipe would develop along with the F2012. In Barcelona, when I realised that our car had taken a leap forward, I thought to myself ‘now Felipe can return to what he was’. “So I was very happy to see his pace in Monaco,” acknowledged Domenicali.
Related posts:
- Domenicali: Alonso and Vettel could easily co-exist together at Ferrari
- Domenicali does not deny interest in Vettel
- Domenicali warns Massa that his Ferrari future is at stake
- Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali unplugged
- Angry Webber seeks Red Bull peace talks
@Stewy33 Ferrari embarrassed by being turned by Webber??? You really are living in a dream world aren’t you LOL? Ferrari could get anyone to drive for them if they seriously want any particular driver to drive for them. It just shows that Ferrari was never seriously after Webber in the first place.
All I get out of this is Ferrari is embarressed to be turned down…