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Montezemolo wants answers over updates

Luca di Montezemolo: "I want to understand why the new parts that we brought to the track only partially improved the performance" © Getty Images

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Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo wants to know why the F2012's latest updates at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix fell short of expectations and did not allow Fernando Alonso to fight for victory in Sunday's race.

Ferrari brought new front and rear wings, a new diffuser and revised barge boards to Yas Marina, but Alonso said the improvement in lap time could only be measured in hundredths of a second rather than the required tenths of a second. He qualified sixth and managed to fight back to second, but Montezemolo says Ferrari must have a car capable of fighting for victory at the next round in the USA.

"The weekend was hard to read," he said in a statement on Ferrari's website. "That began with Saturday evening when I watched a situation that was not entirely clear. As far as Ferrari is concerned I want to understand why the new parts that we brought to the track only partially improved the performance of the F2012, which wasn't enough to allow Alonso to fight for the very front positions on the grid - despite the contrasting expectations of our engineers. Yesterday Fernando nonetheless produced his umpteenth great race of the season, in which he again gave 120% and he managed to fight for victory right to the end.

"But it's clear that we have to do more for the coming races. That is what I requested today of Domenicali and his team: we have 10 crucial days ahead, during which we must do everything to arrive in Texas with a car that can fight for the victory. Words count for nothing: this must be our target."

Alonso reduced the gap in the drivers' standings to Sebastian Vettel by just three points after the Red Bull driver staged an impressive comeback after starting from the pit lane. Montezemolo said it was now down to Ferrari to make up the rest of the 10-point gap by improving the performance of the car.

"To start sixth and finish second, despite only benefiting from one retirement from another car, clearly shows the pedigree of Fernando's race yet again. Of course, yesterday morning we were all hoping to gain back a few more points in the championship given Vettel's starting position. Instead he produced a fine race too, even if the two safety car periods certainly didn't help us...

"Nonetheless I remain confident because everything is possible. It depends on us: yet again in these last 15 years we are involved in the title battle right up to the end and we have seen how much more difficult situations in the championship standings have been overturned. It's up to us not to leave any stone unturned: I am certain that the will to win drives the men and women who work for Ferrari and that everyone will work with absolute determination, giving the same 120% that Fernando keeps on giving. We want to win the World Championship - just as we have done this year in many Gran Turismo title fights thanks to the mighty 458 Italia, beating the most important constructors: I believe in us more than anyone."

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