JULY 25, 2012

Domenicali: we need to keep this momentum

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has paid tribute to the focus and form of Fernando Alonso after the Spaniard's third win of 2012 in Hockenheim, but is taking nothing for granted with regard to Ferrari's prospects of staying on top for the rest of the season.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has paid tribute to the focus and form of Fernando Alonso after the Spaniard's third win of 2012 in Hockenheim, but is taking nothing for granted with regard to Ferrari's prospects of staying on top for the rest of the season.

Domenicali thinks that Ferrari's current position has much to do with Alonso's strength of character in the face of adversity at the start of the season.

"It was important from his side not to lose faith in the team and not to lose the will to believe in what he was doing when we had the difficult days with a car that was not a car." Domenicali said.

"To see him always motivated and focused on his job was really good and is something that makes the difference when you are under pressure. If you see a world champion pushing in the right way that is something fundamental and for that we have to thank him a lot."

Alonso's Hockenheim win, in a car that was not the quickest, had its roots in his qualifying lap in treacherous wet conditions on Saturday.

"We are still not the fastest," Domenicali confirmed. "Look at the first three cars at Hockenheim -- Fernando did more or less 67 laps of qualifying. He showed he is at the peak of his personal performance, no doubt about that. We need to keep this momentum as strong as possible."