Dec.15 (GMM) In assessing Sebastian Vettel’s first year at Ferrari, president Sergio Marchionne aimed a pointed barb at Fernando Alonso.
Vettel replaced the McLaren-Honda bound Alonso at the fabled Maranello team this year, and Marchionne sounds more than happy with the move.
“Vettel is fantastic. Last Saturday here in Maranello he made a speech in front of our 1200 people, completely in Italian. It was unbelievable.
“In only one year, I can say he became more of a Ferrarista than Alonso did in five years,” Marchionne charged.
The Italian-Canadian also said Ferrari is happy with Kimi Raikkonen, even though the team considered not renewing his contract for 2016.
“I saw a huge change in Kimi during the season,” Marchionne said. “Now and then he shows me photos of his baby — I think he is becoming a lot more settled, which I think will be helpful in 2016.
“I think he will be the most engaged we have seen him for the last little while. I am delighted he is part of the team,” he added.