Luca di Montezemolo says the championship is now in Ferrari's hands

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo believes the Italian squad's fate in the championship is now in its own hands after the step forward it took in the Spanish Grand Prix

The updates introduced for the Barcelona race seemed to pay off for the Italian squad, with Fernando Alonso fighting for victory and finishing second to Williams driver Pastor Maldonado.

The result means Alonso is now tied in the lead of the championship after the first five races of the season.

Thanks to the form shown in Spain, di Montezemolo is optimistic winning this year's titles is exclusively up to his team now.

The Italian also said that Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa "must" achieve strong results in order to help his team following a poor start to the campaign.

"The championship is very open and so far, there has not been one dominant force," wrote di Montezemolo in a letter to his staff.

"A series of circumstances and the work done here to improve the car, as well as Alonso's great ability, has led to us leading the championship after five rounds.

"We must capitalise on that, with each one of us giving our very best at home and at the race track, including Massa, who must bring home the results we expect from him.

"I know from Domenicali, with whom I am in constant contact, how hard all of you are working. Of this I am sure, also because winning the championship depends only and exclusively on ourselves: on our ability, our creativity, our determination and our desire to show that we are the best."