Montezemolo downplays Fernando Alonso rumours

Ferrari has suffered a disappointing first half of 2014, with Alonso sitting in fourth in the championship, having scored just two podiums across the opening 11 races.

Ferrari's form has led to suggestions that Alonso, who has a contract with the squad which runs until the end of 2016, could be eyeing a move away from the Maranello-based team for next season.

But Montezemolo insists that Alonso will remain with Ferrari in 2015 - as well as confirming his faith in Kimi Räikkönen, who sits a lowly 12th in the championship at the halfway point of the year.

"We are lucky to have two great champions, who are working with the whole team to get back to being competitive again," he said. "Of course, as is the case every summer, there is unfounded gossip about alleged problems with senseless rumours bandied about, such as the ones relating to Alonso's contract or those of drivers' salaries.

"We know that the summer heat always produces silly stories. Our drivers must now relax in order to return in top form. The season is still long and we need Fernando and Kimi to be in great shape. And on the subject of Kimi, I wish him all the best as he is soon to become a dad."

Montezemolo hired Marco Mattiacci to replace Stefano Domenicali as Team Principal in April, while a restructuring of its engine department resulted in its long-term engine chief Luca Marmorini departing the outfit. Montezemolo believes that these changes, among others, will result in improvements to the squad's fortunes, as Ferrari chases its first Formula 1 victory since May 2013.

"We are making in-depth changes on both the organisational side, in our approach and culture," he said.

"We have taken important decisions and have made significant progress, even if, at the moment, the results of all this work are not always visible. The aim is to get back to being as competitive as we were before in the shortest possible time, while at the same time putting everything in place so that we can embark on another winning cycle.

"As for our sport in general, we are pleased to see that all the major players share the views we first put forward regarding the need to revamp Formula 1. We have proposals aimed specifically at improving the show, starting with more straightforward regulations, which put the spectators first, especially the younger generation."