Ferrari Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali has said that two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will prove to be a better driver for Ferrari than Kimi Raikkonen because of the Spaniard's ability to develop the car and the team during a season.
Alonso joined the Maranello-based team earlier this year on an initial three-year deal with the team, in a move that had been predicted would happen since the dawn of time.
Alonso will partner the returning Felipe Massa next season, meaning that Raikkonen left the Italian team after a disappointing three years with the team where he wrapped up the 2007 title, but struggled to impose himself thereafter.
But with Alonso coming into the team, Domenicali believes the team are getting a driver more in line with Michael Schumacher, who enjoyed a nauseatingly-good relationship with the team during his epic years of dominance earlier in the decade.
"Ferrari needs someone for the team similar to Schumi," Domenicali was quoted as insisting according to the German rag Auto Bild, adding that Raikkonen was "very fast, but also very closed".
Expanding on Raikkonen's time with the team, Domenicali apparently said: "In a car that is capable of winning, he was and is perfect. But if the car needs to be developed and the team fired up, Alonso is better."
The Ferrari boss also spoke about the potential for the Alonso/Massa pairing to descend into farce. Massa has already had some choice words to say about Alonso's 2008 Singapore GP triumph following the Fixgate trial, while Alonso was involved in a high-profile spat with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007.
But Domenciali believes the situation at McLaren was different, and feels confident that there will be no repetition of the mess at Ferrari.
"I've spoken to Fernando about [what happened at] McLaren," Domenicali said, "He felt betrayed, and also that his relationship with Lewis was not always correct. At Maranello that will not happen. I can guarantee that."
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