Ferrari president praises team's comeback

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher took his first pole position since last year's Hungarian Grand Prix and fought for victory with Renault's Fernando Alonso.

In the end the German had to settle for second place, but his team's display has left di Montezemolo upbeat.

"I've been very happy to see once again an extraordinary reaction, because I know my people," di Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I was expecting it. The verdict on the track is always very important, I was only sorry about that car-length gap because we always race to win, but it's okay."

Ferrari's vice president Piero Ferrari sung Schumacher's praises after the German's drive to the podium.

"Schumacher raced like when he was ten years younger," he said. "Fantastic, but I knew that [already]. The most exciting thing is that we're back to have a car worthy of first place. That one-second gap between us and Renault is negligible.

"I don't like second place, first is better, but we're up there. The extra laps Alonso was able to do after our pitstops were decisive."