Ferrari: Schumacher return a misdeed

The Ferrari boss also said he was responsible for making Schumacher feel the desire to return to Formula 1 after his retirement in 2006.

Schumacher spent 13 years at Ferrari before he decided to quit three years ago. This year it was announced the German would join Mercedes GP for at least three seasons.

"I like Schumacher and I'm this misdeed's author," di Montezemolo said during the launch of Ferrari's new car in Maranello.

"It was me who woke his desire to come back to racing and honestly I never thought I'd see him in a car that wasn't a Ferrari.

"He's a competitor, an opponent, like many others. I'm not worried about the possibility that he might have taken material from our development."

Di Montezemolo also praised his own drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who he reckons will form a strong partnership this year.

"When Ferrari decided in 2005 to take Raikkonen the alternative was Alonso, who now finds himself in a fundamental moment of his life. He's matured, young and strong; he has won two World Championships, one in 2005 and one in 2006, beating us 100 per cent," he added.

"We don't have any problem as far as our drivers are concerned. We have Massa, who is back with further enthusiasm, we have Alonso I just told you about and then we have Fisichella as the third driver and two very experienced test drivers: Marc Gene and Luca Badoer."