“I am pleased to be here as I have not yet been to a Grand Prix this year and definitely could not miss out on Monza,” said Montezemolo, during a brief meeting with the media at the Ferrari motorhome. “We are not where we would have liked to be, but as for this race, as usual, we will only do the sums on Sunday night.”

Asked if any changes were planned within the team the President had this to say: “As you know, I have for a long time supported the idea of dynamic stability, which means that while one can always change some pawns, the front line is covered and it’s working very well.”

He then gave a vote of confidence to the Domenicali. The embattled team principal is regarded by many F1 watchers as being one of the core problems that Montezemolo has to solve in order to get the Scuderia back to a position to challenge for the F1 world championship titles, rather than the recent staff reshuffles that have taken place. "Domenicali has all my confidence," Montezemolo added. "I am sorry for him, for me and the Tifosi that we could not win last year, but absolutely." The Ferrari Chairman confirmed that Domenicali won't be replaced in the close season. When asked if Domenicali would be in charge of the team next year he told the reporters emphatically: "The answer in one word is yes."

Montezemolo was quizzed on a variety of Formula 1 topics, including a subject he is particularly keen on, that of teams running a third car. “I still believe it is a good idea, as it was in the past and would be today, if the big teams could give a car to the smaller teams. It would certainly produce more competition and would provide an opportunity to run young drivers as well as representing a clear cost saving. The current Formula 1 is still too dependent on aerodynamics and cutting out testing during the season has put too much emphasis on simulation work. At the mid-point of the last decade, there was definitely too much testing, but now we have gone in the completely opposite direction.”

Montezemolo also stressed his belief in the importance of Formula 1 as a challenge based on advanced technology that can be transferred to the road, citing KERS as an example. In fact an entire wall in the Ferrari motorhome this weekend is dedicated to displaying examples of technology transfer claimed to be made from Formula 1 to road cars in Maranello. Montezemolo watched qualifying from the garage and pit wall and after waving to the thousands of Ferrari fans in the grandstands, he added: “in our current state, starting from the second and third rows is okay and we are in with a chance in the race tomorrow.”

Next Tuesday, Montezemolo will be in Frankfurt for the Motor Show, where the new 458 Spider will be launched, the first car with an 8 cylinder central-rear mounted engine, with a retractable solid roof.