Madonna di Campiglio, 6 August – Fernando Alonso seems to be a bit more generous than his team boss Stefano Domenicali when it comes to scoring the Scuderia’s season so far. Yesterday, the Ferrari Team Principal gave it a 6+, but the Spaniard has raised that to a 7. “A 9 or a 10 can go to those who lead the championship, but this has not been such a bad a season for us so far,” said Fernando. “Sure, the beginning was very difficult: we had hoped for a better start but we did not manage it. In China we went through what was possibly the worst point, because not only were we not fighting for the win with McLaren and Red Bull, but we were also behind Mercedes and maybe Renault, who had already scored two podium finishes. However, after that, we reacted well. We still lack a little something in all areas, including from the drivers, to be at the level of the best. However, I feel much more part of the team than I did a year ago. In terms of driving, I don’t think I’ve ever been this strong.” Alonso was asked for his opinion of the new organisational structure of the team and his thoughts on the 2012 car. “I think what’s been done has been very positive and, in any case, you don’t just change things for the sake of change, but in order to improve. From my point of view, I feel there is a greater will to move forward, more speed and daring in taking some decisions. There is a greater feeling of optimism, more determination and I think the results of that are already evident in the first phase of the design of next year’s car. We are working well, with a lot of creativity: we hope the car will be a surprise from this point of view, but most of all we hope it’s quick. Already this year, we have seen cars that have been considered very interesting and extreme and then they haven’t delivered the results.”

Fernando was somewhat lost for words when he was informed of Domenicali’s comment from yesterday, when he stated that the Spaniard had settled into the team quicker than had Michael Schumacher back in his day. “I don’t know what to say, except that I immediately felt comfortable at Ferrari. But it would be very difficult to repeat what Michael did, because things are very different now to what they were a decade ago. Having said that, I am currently experiencing the best years of my career and that makes me very optimistic for the future.”

Fernando was also informed of Vettel and Hamilton’s comments regarding the fact that sooner or later, they would like to come to Ferrari. “It seems a normal thing to say: all drivers want to race for Ferrari. Some might say it openly, others deny it even if they are thinking it. For my part, it makes me feel even more privileged, because I am at Ferrari now and I will be for many years to come, at least to the end of 2016. I am very happy to have Felipe as a team-mate and we work very well together. If the day arrives when someone else was to come here, that would not be a problem for me, even if it was Hamilton.”