Asked if he regrets letting Michael Schumacher go to Mercedes GP in favor of signing the 2-time world champion for a 3-year deal, Di Montezemolo was very clear of his support for Alonso.
“Not one bit (regret over Schu's departure). It was good with Michael but it's over. No regrets. Today I'm very happy with Alonso, both on and off the track. Alonso has team spirit, conscientiousness, attachment to the team. And when he races he's a fantastic fighter,” said the Italian in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
He did however point out to Alonso's mistake in the last practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix, when the Spaniard hit his Ferrari F10 so bad that the mechanics could do nothing to repair it in time for the qualifying session. Nevertheless, that mistake was repaired on Sunday, when Alonso drove from the back of the grid to 6th place on the twisty, narrow street circuit of the Principality.
“I consider a mistake only what happened at Monte Carlo, due to excessive confidence. He wanted to test the limit while thinking of pole, and he crashed. The jump start in China was down to the tension. But we are in a great position for the championship - the game is on,” added di Montezemolo, who avoided talking about the pit entry clash between Alonso and Felipe Massa in the Chinese Grand Prix.
Alonso is currently second overall in the drivers' classification, only 3 points behind the Red Bull duo, having scored Ferrari's only win this season, in the opening round in Bahrain.
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