Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso has criticised the Italian media over the rumours suggesting that he may swap places with Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel in 2015.

The Maranello team are still dealing with the departure of Luca di Montezemolo and speculation around Alonso’s future just seems to have increased. Alonso, who has a contract with Ferrari until the end of 2016, has had to consistently deny reports in the media that he is set to leave the team and believes that these persistent rumours are hurting the atmosphere at Ferrari.

It was clear that Alonso was growing very tired of having to answer the same old questions and seemed to lose his cool this time around letting out a little snap at the media, “I’ve been commenting about my future for about thirteen months I think, from last year in August, so I have nothing new to say.”

“Sometimes it’s sad when it comes from Italy and they create for some strange purpose these rumours, which are not helping Ferrari,” he continued.

“That’s why we are all here and Ferrari is a much bigger brand than any individual one of us or Formula One in general.

“I respect a lot Ferrari and I try to create a good atmosphere by going out to dinner, playing basketball, playing poker and whatever to have a united team.

“It’s what we need and what we expect from us. When all these things come in from Italy it is not really clear what is the purpose, and if we know the purpose one day I will tell.”

Alonso closed by paying tribute to Luca di Montezemolo who is leaving the team next month after spending 23 years steering the red ship. He will be replaced by Sergio Marchionne, head of the Fiat group which owns Ferrari.

“He was our leader for many years and it was a great time for Ferrari,” Alonso explained. “I wish him good luck with new projects and for the new President, I wish him good luck for hopefully a very successful future.”

Photo Credit: Scuderia Ferrari