Domenicali and Alonso thank Massa

Fernando Alonso and Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali have thanked Felipe Massa for his achievements with and his loyalty to Ferrari through the years. The Brazilian leaves the team at the end of the season.

For four seasons, Fernando Alonso has shared the Scuderia Ferrari garage with Felipe Massa and the day after news broke that the Brazilian would be leaving, the Spaniard thanked his Brazilian team mate for the support.

“I want to thank Felipe for all the support he has given me and the team during this journey we have made together over all these years", Alonso said. "Come the end of the season, it will not be easy to say goodbye to a team-mate like him. He has always been truly professional and loyal to the team and I am sure that right to the end, he will do his utmost for the Scuderia that he loves so much.”

Stefano Domenicali meanwhile highlights that Massa has been part of the Ferrari family for 12 year, and that as a result the end of this will not be easy.

“I wish to thank Felipe with all my heart and also on behalf of all our fans around the world, for the extraordinary job he has done for the team over so many years,” commented Domenicali on www.ferrari.com. “Felipe has always behaved like a real team player. Together we have lived through some great times and also a few dramatic moments, which have helped to cement a truly unique relationship on both a professional and personal level. He will always be part of our family and we wish him all the very best for the future. Now we must concentrate all our efforts on the remaining seven races of the season and we know that, as always, we can count on Felipe’s contribution, while we work together to reach our goals. Our determination will not waver one iota right to the very end.”

Both men of course welcome Kimi Raikkonen to the Scuderia, the team with which he won his World Championship title. Alonso welcomed his "new travelling companion", while Domenicali said: “I sense he is very happy to be returning to Maranello and very determined to tackle the work that awaits him in the best way possible.”