The president of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, yesterday rejected reports that double Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel was set to join the Italian outfit.

“I’ve always said that I don’t want two roosters in the hen-house. I don’t like that and it creates instability in the team,” he told Italian radio.

Montezemolo was speaking amid reports that championship leader Vettel was set to join Ferrari in 2014 with any move dependent on the team’s results next season.

Alonso had sanctioned the move after previously ruling out pairing up with Lewis Hamilton, who will move from McLaren to Mercedes next season, according to unnamed sources at Ferrari quoted by the BBC on its website.

The Spaniard won the world title in 2005 and 2006 with Renault but has not finished above second with the Italian team.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali vowed the Italian outfit would fight Red Bull all the way, after Vettel toppled Alonso in the drivers’ standings.

A buoyant Domenicali declared: “This result was a great team effort and anyone who thinks that losing the lead in the drivers’ championship might leave us discouraged is making a big mistake.”

The Ferrari team boss said that “we are working day and night to succeed”.

“There are four races to go at the end of a fantastic and very uncertain season. We will not let up, not even for a second, you can be sure of that,” he said.

Domenicali was coy about the future of Massa, amid rumours the Brazilian will be offered a seat for next season after a distinct improvement in his performances, coming second last week in Japan.

“Felipe followed up his great race in Suzuka with another one here, also on the attack right from the opening lap and then again at other key moments, like when he overtook Hamilton,” he said.

“His future? As my friend Laura Pausini (Italian pop singer) would say, ‘Wait and see...’.

“Clearly, at the moment Red Bull might seem unbeatable in everyone’s eyes, but I can remember the same thing being said about McLaren on Sunday afternoon in Singapore: the wheel turns quickly this year.”

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