Luca di Montezemolo: Alonso and Raikkonen will be equal at Ferrari

Fernando Alonso's reign as the undisputed No. 1 driver at Ferrari is over, according to Ferrari chairman Luca di Montemolo.

The double world champion will be partnered at the Italian team in 2014 by Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn who won the last of Ferrari's 15 world championships in 2007.

'I don't like No. 1, No. 2,' Di Montezemolo told CNN ahead of this weekend's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix. 'No. 1 is the timing, No.1 and No.2 depends on the timing.'



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Di Montezemolo praised Alonso's skill -- the Spaniard was the drivers' champion in 2005 and 2006 -- by giving the 32-year-old a 'good eight out of 10' mark for a 2013 season which has seen him struggle to keep pace with Red Bull's runaway world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Di Montezemolo hopes Raikkonen's arrival will spur Alonso on to greater things in 2014.

Read: 'Alonso's season? An eight out of 10'

'Fernando is really a very, very good driver,' said Di Montezemolo. 'I'm very pleased to have him in the team. I am only frustrated that we haven't been in condition to give really a super car in the last seasons.

'Alonso knows that he drives to win for himself, but also for Ferrari. Ferrari is a team and I want drivers (who) will drive and will act and react as a team member, not only one man.

'I think that both of these drivers have good experience ... I think it's also in the interest of Alonso to have in the team a driver ready to battle his own competitors, Alonso's competitors.'

Raikkonen has won 20 grands prix since making his F1 debut in 2001 and returns to Ferrari -- he drove for the Italian team between 2007 and 2009 -- as a replacement for Brazilian Felipe Massa, who is moving to Williams after eight years at the 'Prancing Horse.'

Raikkonen has spent the last two years with Lotus, having left the sport in 2009 to pursue a career in rally driving.

Di Montezemolo wanted to recruit a driver of Raikkonen's experience given the raft of new regulations set to shake up F1 in 2014.

Read: Red Bull set new pit stop record

'I need a driver able to win races or at least to take off points from our main competitors,' said Di Montezemolo of the 34-year-old. 'I think he will be in condition to do it.

'For a car with completely new rules, in which you have to develop without the previous year's car, you need a driver with experience.

'Don't forget that Kimi was the driver that won our last world championship.'

However, doubts have been cast over Ferrari's ability to manage two drivers who will have their eyes set on a title challenge.

Alonso famously clashed with Lewis Hamilton while at McLaren, a rivalry which culminated in the Spaniard joining Renault in 2009 before signing with Ferrari in 2010.

But Di Montezemolo has no concerns of a similarly personality clash this time around.

'I don't want to say that they are old...' Di Montezemolo joked when asked if the two drivers will get along. 'But I'm sure, yes.'

Blog: The cult of Kimi -- F1's coolest driver?

Read: The glamor girls of F1

'I think that both of these drivers have good experience ... I think it's also in the interest of Alonso to have in the team a driver ready to battle his own competitors, Alonso's competitors.' 'I think that both of these drivers have good experience ... I think it's also in the interest of Alonso to have in the team a driver ready to battle his own competitors, Alonso's competitors.' 'Don't forget that Kimi was the driver that won our last world championship.' 'Fernando is really a very, very good driver,' said Di Montezemolo. 'I'm very pleased to have him in the team. I am only frustrated that we haven't been in condition to give really a super car in the last seasons. The double world champion will be partnered at the Italian team in 2014 by Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn who won the last of Ferrari's 15 world championships in 2007. Alonso famously clashed with Lewis Hamilton while at McLaren, a rivalry which culminated in the Spaniard joining Renault in 2009 before signing with Ferrari in 2010. Blog: The cult of Kimi -- F1's coolest driver? Fernando Alonso's reign as the undisputed No. 1 driver at Ferrari is over, according to Ferrari chairman Luca di Montemolo. 'Fernando is really a very, very good driver,' said Di Montezemolo. 'I'm very pleased to have him in the team. I am only frustrated that we haven't been in condition to give really a super car in the last seasons. 'I need a driver able to win races or at least to take off points from our main competitors,' said Di Montezemolo of the 34-year-old. 'I think he will be in condition to do it.

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