"Some news outlets used some statements by Felipe Massa after the Chinese GP, which were somehow taken out of context: obviously someone is trying to create bad blood between the two drivers after Fernando Alonso's overtaking manoeuvre of his teammate at the pit lane entrance on lap 19," read a statement. "Furthermore both drivers were very clear after the race: this episode won't change anything at all regarding the relationship between the two. Felipe and Fernando are travelling back to Europe on the same flight, together with the Scuderia's technicians."

A spokesperson for the team from Maranello said on the phone from Shanghai on Monday: “What happened yesterday with Fernando overtaking Felipe was just an episode in a race and I should be treated as such. Our drivers know how to behave on the track and they have shown it also this time. Naturally both want to win and they both bring fighting spirit to the races, while respecting a very simple rule: the team's well-being is of more importance than the individual's well-being.”

Then came a comment from the Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo: “There is no dispute between Alonso and Massa, they know well what they have to do and will continue doing it, because they know that they are racing for Ferrari and not for themselves," said Luca di Montezemolo last night in Florence. He also made a joke regarding Valentino Rossi in connection to the still valid possibility of a third car supplied by the big teams to the private teams: "I’d do everything to let Valentino win also in Formula 1 with a Ferrari: when he has won also this Moto GP World Championship… meanwhile let’s hope that we’ll be back to winning ways soon. I thought that Sunday would have been the right occasion: I’ve seen an excellent Alonso in the first five corners, but there was the tiny detail that he had jumped the start…"

Meanwhile the plane, which brought back the Scuderia Ferrari drivers and technicians back from China landed this morning in Nice. Then Ferrari launched into another statement to dampen the media speculation, saying: "Felipe and Fernando have been informed about the speculations in some news outlets regarding the consequences on their relationship after the event at the pit lane entrance at the Chinese GP last Sunday.

"As it happens quite often, there’s always someone who wants to create some confusion," Massa said in the statement. "The situation between me and Fernando is the one it always has been and an overtaking manoeuvre won’t change it for sure. I already explained after the race what happened and I think it’s useless doing it again, but obviously there’s someone who doesn’t want to understand. If I’ve spoken to Fernando? Sure, just like we talk to each other every day when we’re on the track. We both know very well what Ferrari wants from us drivers and what we have to do on the track."

"I’m surprised by what I’ve been told," Alonso added. "I already said it in Shanghai: this episode is creating a stir just because it happened between two teammates. If the other car would have been green or grey, we’d all be celebrating this manoeuvre, but instead we’re just losing time with polemics, where there is nothing to say. Felipe and I are racing and we know that the team’s interest is the most important thing. We know how to behave and we’ve shown it on other occasions during these first races. It’s definitely not the duels on the track, creating problems inside the team and I know this by experience. If someone wants to make a fuss, it definitely won’t ruin the spirit of Ferrari."