Bernie Ecclestone is certain that Ferrari will bounce back in 2014 after the Italian team failed to challenge Red Bull for the championship.
The 83-year-old said he expected Ferrari to be closer than they were, but changes made throughout the season – like the hiring of James Allison – will see them on form next year.
“Ferrari is very pissed off about what happened in 2013,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I believed Ferrari would win the title.
“I cannot explain why the team was not competitive. Alonso, however, drove well and had no problems of his own.”
When asked if Alonso – who was publicly rebuked by president Luca di Montezemolo for his comments – was right to criticise the team, Ecclestone replied: “Yes! The situation [at Ferrari] has not improved. The dust has settled though and we will see a different Ferrari in 2014.”
The billionaire approves of their new driver pairing too, and believes that Kimi Raikkonen’s presence will only spur Alonso to do better.
“It’s a classic pairing that Enzo Ferrari would have liked in his team. It will be fun with those two,” he added. “If Kimi drives like he did on so many occasions this year, it will be a stimulus to Fernando.
“But the base Ferrari needs is to have a good car. Otherwise it will just all be talk.”
On who might win it this year, Ecclestone refused to say, but hinted that it might rest on which engine has the advantage.
“There is no guarantee it will be the best driver that wins the title. The title will go to the most fortunate. At the moment I do not have a favourite.
“Next year we will return to the hierarchy of the engines and those who win, will have the best one.”
Let us know which manufacturer you believe will have the best engine in 2014 by voting in our weekly poll. It can be found to the right of this article.
