Luca di Montezemolo has spelled out Felipe Massa’s supporting role in the 2010 world championship, showing no regret for the decision to put the “focus” of the Ferrari challenge on number 1 driver Fernando Alonso.

Speaking at the Paris motor show on Thursday, the Ferrari president urged Brazilian Massa to show a better performance at the decisive races, having struggled with the F10 recently.

“I have waited for Felipe with great perseverance in the last four races,” Montezemolo is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I want a strong Massa who will shave points off the rivals,” he added.

On the other hand, Spaniard Alonso has won the past two races from pole, and has been in Ferrari’s box seat at least since July’s German grand prix, where Massa was controversially moved aside whilst leading.

“The decision to focus on Alonso has been proven to be right,” said Montezemolo.

“He is extremely strong and very close to the team, and has been able to blend in well from day one despite the concerns of some,” he added.

Montezemolo showed no regrets about Ferrari’s stance; a philosophy not so openly embraced by the Maranello based team’s championships rivals Red Bull and McLaren.

“Those who race for Ferrari don’t race for themselves, but for the Ferrari team colours,” said the Italian.

“One who wants to race for himself will have to face his team,” Montezemolo insisted.

Dyed-in-the-wool racer Martin Brundle on Monday said he sees no quick end to Red Bull’s new self-induced crisis.

“I doubt that trip across the Atlantic for the next round in Montreal will extinguish these fireworks,” the BBC commentator said on Monday, as the international media got to work on Sebastian Vettel’s crash at Istanbul Park with race leader and teammate Mark Webber.

The Sun’s headline referred to the one-two gift handed to McLaren, toying with the energy drink’s slogan by insisting “Red Bull gives you wins”.

Other sections of the press were more serious.

“Red Bull has a conflict of jealously and betrayal,” said El Mundo newspaper in Spain.

Italy’s La Repubblica likened the previously dominant team’s self-destruction to “suicide”.

Britain’s The Independent referred to the fact that Webber, branded crazy by Vettel’s gesticulations and told by his bosses that he should have let the young German past, must now have the impression he is the number two driver.

Webber acknowledged that Vettel’s gesticulations were caused by the “adrenalin” of the moment, but “Red Bull need to take steps to ensure the current world championship leader can have complete faith that the support within the team is spread evenly”, said the newspaper.

And Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport noted that the 33-year-old is “not the kind of guy who is told to finish second”.

Strangely within the paddock, it was only the Red Bull bosses who thought Webber had done something wrong.

“Where should Mark have gone?” Lewis Hamilton – who had a box-seat view of the incident that unfolded in front of him – told German television Sky.

“I think the gap he left him was big enough.

“Even though Jenson and I both want to win, we also have respect for each other.  I’m really happy that I have such a good relationship with my teammate.”

Said Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg: “Mark didn’t move at all.  For me, it was clearly Sebastian’s fault.”

Niki Lauda said the 22-year-old had been “much too aggressive”, and former driver Alex Wurz noted in Turkey: “All my racing colleagues are in agreement that it was Vettel’s fault.”

Ross Brawn thinks these situations can be minimised if drivers know clearly the rules of engagement.

“It depends on what has been said beforehand,” the Mercedes team boss is quoted by Die Welt newspaper.  “Although it’s racing, the rules must be known to the drivers.”

Peter Sauber, meanwhile, had some sympathy for Christian Horner, admitting to Blick newspaper in Switzerland that these situations are “a nightmare for a team chief”.

(GMM)