Perhaps highlighting the Scuderia's interest in hiring the Spaniard at some point in the future, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has lauded Fernando Alonso's efforts this season.

Although the Spaniard has been made out to be the 'bad boy' at McLaren in 2007, particularly among the British media, Montezemolo insisted that the double world champion had conducted himself as such.

"Alonso is a champion in all senses, an extraordinary pilot," he said while reflecting on the season during a video press conference with the Italian media, "To lose the world title by a single point at the last round, and by the mismanagement of his team, I appreciated his sportsmanship in immediately congratulating Kimi Raikkonen. He showed himself to be a champion on and off the track."

Montezemolo was only slightly less complimentary about the other McLaren driver, who has also been linked to Ferrari at various points in the season, but admitted that he had not found Lewis Hamilton's on-track manners to be lacking at time.

"Had he remained behind Alonso [at Interlagos], rather than wanting to beat him, he would now be champion," he pointed out, "He committed a foolish error but, having said that, it is necessary to recognise that Hamilton disputed an extraordinary season.

"To be so young and in his debut season in F1 and to be fighting for the title until the last second, he deserves respect and compliments. However, it should be recognised that, in the course of the season, he did not always conduct himself in an exemplary manner. Just look at his move on Raikkonen in qualifying at Interlagos."