Ferrari's real troublemaker

Monza may not have produced much to get excited about on track in 2013, but the drama that played out in the stretch of asphalt behind the pits more than made up for it.

Formula 1's annual silly season continued in overdrive up and down the paddock, even though Red Bull had withdrawn itself from that fun by announcing Daniel Ricciardo.

And it was no surprise that in its own backyard, it was Ferrari that found itself once again under the spotlight as it pushed to save its 2013 title prospects and sort out its 2014 driver line-up.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo certainly seemed to be up for some fun as he cheekily batted off any discussions about Fernando Alonso's flirtations with Red Bull and Lotus earlier this year.

"The truth is that he was trying to go to Marussia..." smiled di Montezemolo when asked about the situation.

There was a look of confusion on Alonso's face when di Montezemolo spotted him seconds later and shouted out across the paddock: "Alonso? Is it true that you are going to drive for Marussia next year?"

This is not where Alonso will be in 2014 © LAT

In these days of live television cameras broadcasting conversations whenever they take place, and quotes so often taken out of context and regurgitated with the wrong meaning, it was a surprise that such jesting did not start the latest round of silly season gossip and prompt actual stories that Alonso was about to be parked at a Ferrari customer team...

Such is the swift way that the modern media works that sometimes the smallest of messages can take on huge meanings far beyond their original intention.

Look how Alonso's tweet in the gap between Belgium and Italy. The looming exciting news he promised was about him purchasing a cycling team, yet it was interpreted by some as a heads-up that he was poised to announce a switch to Red Bull.

Sometimes it really is important to sit back and think logically about things.

At Monza on Saturday afternoon, the paddock was again awash with excitement about Alonso's radio conversation with his pitwall during qualifying.

The Spaniard was clearly frustrated at his team having not executed its strategy spot on.

Ferrari's Monza qualifying masterplan didn't work © XPB

Having been advised on the radio early in Q3 that he would have to let Nico Rosberg on a fast lap through, and then finding out that it was unnecessary, he let rip in Italian.

The official translated version of what he said was. "So we have to let him through then? You're really geniuses, guys."

However, there was a big debate about whether he actually said 'geniuses' (geni) or 'idiots' (schemi)...

Whichever one he said ultimately matters little; as either sarcasm or anger are simply the end result of a top-line driver desperate to win letting his frustrations get the better of him in the heat of competition.

As part of the ongoing soap opera surrounding Alonso it was an interesting footnote, but equally it was too much to read that short snippet as clear proof his relationship with Ferrari was at an end.

Much of the problem with the radio transmissions in F1 is that they are not done 'live' as there is often a one or two minute delay before they get broadcast. And they are quite selective. After all, the producer has to sift through all the radio traffic to try to find the best bits to get on air.

That can have the consequence sometimes of events on track actually appearing to have more significance when a message is played.

Button felt TV's radio use misrepresented him in Bahrain © LAT

Just look at how a delayed radio message to Sergio Perez in Malaysia last year that was broadcast just seconds before he ran wide was viewed by some as proof of a conspiracy to help Alonso win...

Remember too how Jenson Button was left a bit frustrated after Bahrain this year when selected snippets of his conversation about Perez were broadcast - making it appear that he was more furious than he actually was.

"In a way it's a pity that TV companies just choose the messages they want, because they can come across in the wrong way," said Button afterwards. "I was obviously angry, but the anger was supposed to be kept within the team, because I am radioing the team, I'm not radioing TV companies."

Teams and drivers know though that there is every chance whatever they say can be broadcast. It's why they talk now of 'Plan A' and 'Plan B' rather than specific strategies, why Ferrari speaks in Italian - and why, when something is particularly sensitive, the pit wall or driver often chuck in some fairly strong swear words to ensure what they say does not get out.

The other influence on the Alonso soap opera is that anyone who works for Ferrari knows that when you wear a Prancing Horse badge there comes with it a particular sense of responsibility. It delivers a level of interest and scrutiny that other teams don't have to bear.

Ferrari drivers have to watch every word © LAT

When Kimi Raikkonen hits out at his Lotus boys - 'yes, yes, yes, I know what I'm doing', or says he wants to punch Perez in the face - it is viewed as funny. If Alonso gets a bit frustrated, and voices similar thoughts, it becomes a big story.

It is not always the media's fault though, despite Alonso being so keen to suggest that in Italy.

After all, the catalyst for the ongoing stories of friction between the Spaniard and his bosses was not external.

It was Alonso's own comments after the Hungarian Grand Prix, it was his manager's visits to Red Bull and Lotus (whatever the true motive was) in Budapest, and it was that remarkable press statement from di Montezemolo at the start of the summer break that set the ball rolling.

Ultimately though, the trail of the 'casino' surrounding Ferrari does not go back to how Alonso and Ferrari are working together. It's simply that a young German keeps on doing the winning.

"There is only one small problem," admitted di Montezemolo when asked for his reflections on the season. "There is somebody else more competitive than us..."

It's Sebastian Vettel, not Alonso, that is Ferrari's real troublemaker.